The think (here) Blog

Part 3 of the Eye of the Storm Series brings us to analyzing influences on a system.

A system can be influenced by many external and internal components and these influences can be both positive and negative.

Negative influences create chaos and hinder the ability to simplify a system.

Removing a negative influence from a system can prove to be a difficult task.

The first step is to find the negative influence on the system.

What are some aspects of the system that are holding the rest of the system down?

This can be an unmotivated team member, outdated equipment, limited resources and the list goes on.

After identifying the negative influence, the next step involves change.

Change occurs either by attempting to fix the negative influence or removing it completely.

A correct assessment is needed to be able to find the correct path to follow.  Each influence on the system is situational and circumstantial and must be treated as such.

The key thing to remember is to cut the losses.  

A negative influence on a system will hinder its productivity.

Just like shampoo....Lather, rinse, and repeat as needed till the system is cleansed.

Image Credit: David Sifry

In the last post on Reaching the Eye of the Storm, I (@MouyyadA) addressed assessing the simplicity of a system.  In Part 2, I'll focus on needs.

Many times in business the line separating wants and needs blurs.  We often add parts to a system without verifying they are actually needed.

Ask yourself: Do I (you) really need it?

Is that equipment you want really necessary?

Is that new employee you are hiring really needed?

Do you really need that new office space?

A systems needs are defined by the criteria I outlined in the previous post: efficient, dynamic, user-friendly.  

Even in business, we have 'wants'.  We want to add things to our systems, spend money improving the system, and constantly stay on the cutting edge.

But do you really need it?

A want can become a need if it makes the system more efficient, more dynamic or more user-friendly.