• support@bizmanualz.com
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Help
  • My Account
Policies and Procedures Manual Template WordPolicies and Procedures Manual Template WordPolicies and Procedures Manual Template WordPolicies and Procedures Manual Template Word
  • Policy
    Procedure
    Manuals
    • CEO 9-Manual Set-45% Off
    • CFO 5-Manual Set-34% Off
    • Policy Procedure Software
    • Accounting Manual
    • Finance Manual
    • IT Policy Manual
    • HR Policy Manual
    • Sales Marketing Manual
    • ISO 9001 Quality Procedures Manual
    • AS9100 D Quality Procedures Manual
    • ISO 22000 Food Safety HACCP Manual
    • Production Operations
    • Medical Office Procedures
    • Nonprofit Procedures
    • Construction Procedures
  • Document
    Management
    Software
    • Product & Benefits
    • OnPolicy Software Overview
    • On-Policy – 30-Day Free Trial
    • Testimonials
    • Resources
    • Subscribe to OnPolicy
    • Software, Procedure Manual Bundle
    • OnPolicy Help Introduction
  • Free
    Procedure
    Samples
    • Free Sample Policies and Procedures Template
  • How To
    Business
    Articles
    • Save Time Writing Procedures
    • Write Better Policies
    • Writing Procedure Manuals
    • Write Better Procedures
    • Strengthen Your Financials
      • Set Better Objectives
      • Tighten Accounting Controls
      • Improve Company Governance
      • Simplify Compliance
    • Improve Quality
      • Make a Process Map
      • Implement ISO Quality
      • Improve Quality
      • Improve Management Systems
      • Increase Customer Satisfaction
      • Make Your Business Lean
      • Making Change Easier
    • Solve Business Problems
      • Organize Your Business
      • Improve Business Communication
      • Be a Better Boss
      • Empower Employees
      • Grow Your Business
      • Find Business Improvements
      • Improve Business Processes
      • Increase Innovation
      • Better Sales and Marketing
      • Better Project Management
      • Better Disaster Security Planning
      • Improve Employee Health and Safety
    • Leverage Technology
      • Automate Policy Management
      • Improve Your Social Media
      • Increase Productivity
      • Analyzing Business Data
  • Lean ISO
    Consulting
    Training
    • Improve Your Training
    • Customer Testimonials
    • ISO 9001:2015 Classes | Internal Auditor Training | Virtual
    • ISO 9001:2015 Classes | Lead Auditor Training St Louis MO
    • ISO 9000 Help | Lean Consulting Training St Louis MO
    • ISO Writer | Writing Policies and Procedures Training Class
    • Lean Training Class St Louis MO
    • FREE Quality
      Audit* Offer
0

Are You Solving Problems or Improving Processes?

Categories
  • Improve Business Processes
Tags
  • improving processes
  • problems
  • processes
  • solving problems

Solving problems may be an important thing to do, but it is not the same as improving processes. Why is this so? How do we improve processes?

Are you solving problems or improving the process? In other words, if you find a problem in a process and implement change to fix it, then did you improve the process? Well, maybe… Sure, solving problems may be an important thing to do, but it is not the same as improving processes. Why is this so?

Solving Problems

Solving problems is more about resolving local issues and fails to take into account the interactions with other processes or the system as a whole. Fixing the local problem may not produce the desired result and, worse, may create an entirely new set of problems. That’s right — if you haven’t considered the effect of your fix on other processes in your whole system of processes, you could make the situation worse. It’s like driving around in your car without a map or a GPS, looking for a town or street address you’ve never been to. If you find the place, it will have taken a lot of time and gasoline and more than a bit of luck to get there. More likely, you’ll end up somewhere you don’t want to be.

Improving Processes

Improving processes is about resolving global issues or outcomes for the whole system of processes. It’s about focusing on the customers’ outcomes. To improve processes, you use a map, a process map, with a picture of the process interactions, outcomes, and activities involved. The process map helps you focus on what’s important and what’s not. The idea is to analyze the impact of any changes you make on the global outcomes and less on the local problem.

Improving processes is about prioritizing problems and fixing only those that improve global outcomes. It is not about fixing any problem that arises. In fact, you may be better off leaving some problems as problems because there are more important uses of your time.

Yet, human nature being what it is demonstrates that people spend 80% of their time on solving problems and only 20% on improving the process. It’s the old Pareto principle (80/20 rule) again. Solving problems provides a sense of accomplishment, immediate gratification, and reward. Most compensation systems are based on problems solved instead of outcomes achieved.

For example, expenses in a business are considered a local problem. As a manager, if you reduce your expenses, save money, and control your budget then most managers would be rewarded for such good behavior, regardless of the revenue or profit impact of your action. After all, such outcomes are ‘beyond your control’, it’s got to be a sales or marketing problem if revenue is impacted.

Improving Processes by Design

Improving processes is a result of changes made to a process’ design. Well-designed processes produce outcomes that are expected, efficient, and keep customers happy. By comparison, solving problems does not focus on design at all. Instead, the focus is on patching the current design, reworking unexpected outcomes, or quick fixes to customer unhappiness. And it never ends. You will be constantly patching a bad design until the design is changed.

Improving Processes Through Prevention

Root cause is what we are looking for to change a bad design. Solving problems is a reactive approach seeking to understand and resolve the undesirable event. While, process improvement is a proactive approach seeking to understand the cause and stop the re-occurrence of an undesirable event. The only way to stop a re-occurrence is to change the design itself.

Many businesses solve problems that arise in reaction to operational events, management directions, tight deadlines, or complaints. In these situations fixing the problem is all that matters. There is no time to get at the root of the problem and prevent it from reoccurring.

Improving Processes Through Simplification

Improving processes is about process simplification. Reducing defects and variance or shrinking cycle times and speeding up a process involve removing needless activities, time delays or design flaws. On the other hand, solving problems usually adds steps. If you feel like you need to add an inspection step or more sign-off forms then you are problem solving. Problems do not have to occur. Thinking that they do is a problem solving mentality. Process improvement is about prevention and avoidance.

Improving Processes Produces Long-Term Results

Improving processes is about identifying changes worthy of investment to implement permanently. In contrast, problem-solving results in short-term solutions due to its narrow focus on local problems and its “fix it” rather than “prevent it” approach. Even then, the numerous fixes just don’t add up to significant gains. They are nothing more than isolated solutions with little connection to the organization’s goals. Problem solving becomes a diversion, preventing an organization from making impactful changes. For problem solving to work, it needs to be a part of process improvement.

improving processesImproving Processes or Problem Solving?

Everyone starts by solving problems. But for lasting change that impacts the bottom line, you need a systematic approach focused on the right outcomes.

The steps involved in improving processes:

  • Understand the big picture. Before making changes to a process, you need to understand the whole process from start to end.
  • Identify the critical path. Examine the main activities between the process’s start and end points for weaknesses and potential problems.
  • Prioritize issues affecting outcomes. The weaknesses according to their impact on the results.
  • Communicate change. Collect and analyze data to communicate change.
  • Take action. Prevent problems and strengthen weaknesses.

More Articles from Bizmanualz...

  • How Do You Create Well-Defined Processes?How Do You Create Well-Defined Processes?
  • Automating Finances Should Be a Part of Your Management OverhaulAutomating Finances Should Be a Part of Your Management Overhaul
  • How to Achieve Consistency In Remote and In-House ProcessesHow to Achieve Consistency In Remote and In-House Processes
  • What are Processes and Procedures?What are Processes and Procedures?
  • What Types of Processes Exhibit Control?What Types of Processes Exhibit Control?
  • How to Identify and Improve Your Core ProcessesHow to Identify and Improve Your Core Processes
  • What’s Your Plan to Document Processes Procedures?What’s Your Plan to Document Processes Procedures?
  • What Are the Top Ten Core Business Processes?What Are the Top Ten Core Business Processes?
  • Are Your Procedures Too Complex?Are Your Procedures Too Complex?
  • What’s the Difference Between Processes and Procedures?What’s the Difference Between Processes and Procedures?
Share

3 Comments

  1. Ricardo Atencia says:
    November 15, 2016 at 12:37 am

    I totally agree with Chris’ approach in solving problem by improving process that has more lasting and / or longer effect in achieving results.

    Reply
  2. Are You Solving Problems or Improving Processes... says:
    December 6, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    […] Solving problems may be an important thing to do, but it is not the same as improving processes. Why is this so? How do we improve processes?  […]

    Reply
  3. Mark says:
    November 30, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    I try to improve processes. The thing that has helped me to improve my processes lately was kanbantool.com . It’s a tool based on Kanban and really helps to avoid backlogs, make the processes smoother and easier to deal with.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Products

  • AS9100 D Quality Procedures Manual AS9100 Quality Procedures Manual Rev D | ABR217M Aerospace Quality Procedures Manual $ 395.00 $ 297.00
  • Accounting Policy Procedure Manual MS-Word Template Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual
    Rated 4.60 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 397.00
  • Finance Policy Procedure Manual Finance Policies Procedures Manual | ABR42M
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 347.00
  • it standard operating procedures IT Policies and Procedures Manual
    Rated 4.40 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 397.00
  • Human Resources HR Policy Procedure Manual HR Policies and Procedures Template | ABR41M
    Rated 3.89 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 347.00
  • Sales Marketing Policy Procedure Manual Sales Marketing Policies and Procedures Manual | ABR44M
    Rated 3.67 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 347.00
  • Security Policy Procedure Manual Security Policies and Procedures Manual $ 395.00 $ 297.00
  • Disaster Recovery Policy Procedure Manual Disaster Recovery Planning Manual
    Rated 4.00 out of 5
    $ 395.00 $ 297.00
  • ISO 9001 Procedures ISO 9001 2015 Procedures | ABR211M
    Rated 4.60 out of 5
    $ 495.00 $ 347.00
  • ISO 22000 Food Safety Procedures Manual ISO 22000 Food Safety Procedures Manual | ABR213M
    Rated 3.83 out of 5
    $ 395.00 $ 197.00
 Free Sample Policies Procedures

Get to Know Us

About Bizmanualz

Our Customers

Our Contributors

Featured Products

Free Policies and Procedures

Privacy Policy

FAQs

Risk Free Guarantee

Process Improvement

Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • How Do You Create Well-Defined Processes?
  • What are Examples of Company Policies and Procedures?
  • How Do You Handle Distractions in the Workplace?
  • How Do You Run a Meeting Smoothly?
  • How Prepared is Your Business for an Unpredictable Future?
  • What is the Duration of Continuous Improvement?
  • What to Consider Before Moving Your Business to Another State?
  • What is Backlink in Blogging?

Business Procedures

Accounting Manuals Template

Finance Procedures

HR Procedures

IT Policies and Procedures Templates

Sales Marketing Procedures

Quality Assurance Policy Statement and Procedures

Medical Office Procedures

Employee Handbook Manual

Aerospace Procedures

Food Safety Procedures

Security & Disaster Plans

Production Procedures

Procedure Writing Guide

Featured Manuals

  • Alt Text CEO Bundle and Document Management Software Package $ 2,495.00 $ 1,857.21 one time, and
    $ 990.00 / year
  • St. Louis ISO auditor training class ISO 9001:2015 Classes | Lead Auditor Training St Louis MO $ 2,395.00 – $ 3,270.00
  • 9-Manual CEO Company Policies and Procedures Bundle | Save 45%
    Rated 4.50 out of 5
    $ 2,495.00 $ 1,997.00
  • CFO Responsibilities Financial Accounting Procedures 5-Manual CFO Internal Control Procedures Bundle| Save 34%
    Rated 4.64 out of 5
    $ 1,695.00 $ 1,497.00
  • AS9100 D Quality Procedures Manual AS9100 Quality Procedures Manual | ABR217M Aerospace Quality Procedures Manual $ 595.00 $ 499.00
Copyright ©1999-2021 Bizmanualz, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Sitemap | Privacy Policy
0
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Help
  • My Account
Go to mobile version