Introduction to Systems and Processes
When you realize your team isn’t working the way you’d like, it’s time to make a change. But how to do you know what to change? This is where having concepts like systems and processes become helpful.
Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.
Read to the end to learn nerdy trivia about this commonly mis-attributed quote!
What do you mean when you say "systems"?
Systems are the higher level functions within your business such as HR, Finance, or Marketing. They contain an interconnected series of structures that create an environment where work can get done.
You could have digital systems as well, such as MS Office or Salesforce. Perhaps the easiest one to think of is your computer’s operating system (it’s in the name!!!) like macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, etc.
What do you mean when you say "processes"?
Processes are a series of steps that take input and produce output. They generally are a series of steps. Differently from systems, processes have a beginning and an end. Perhaps slightly confusingly, a system could be made up of many processes.
Examples of processes are running payroll, onboarding a new customer, and responding to an RFP. They all require some kind of input, have a series of steps to complete them, and have a clear end.
Why does this matter?
Even if you’ve never thought of it this way, you have both systems and processes at your company. Maybe you’ve never written them down, but they exist. Documenting them is important because it’s very hard to change a thing you can’t define. Once you know how your team works today, you can start making targeted choices about what to do differently.
You made it this far
The quote "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results" is often misattributed to Albert Einstein. It really belongs to the writer Rita Mae Brown from her book Sudden Death. Check out this fun Google mini site about mis-appropriated quotes to learn more!
Also, if you recognize this post's image you've probably been to baggage claim C at the Philadelphia International Airport. That's Celestial Balldergarten by George Rhoads.
If these topics resonated with you or if you want to learn more about taking your digital operations more seriously, reach out and let’s talk! Consultations are always free and I’d be interested to hear your perspective.
