As an engineer by training (I got out as quickly as I could, to the more esoteric world of marketing) I learned the engineering iron triangle. There are always three demands on any product - make it:
- Cheap
- Fast
- Reliable
And the real kicker, the real sidesplitter that engineers really enjoy, is that they add you can choose any two of these, and the third one is dictated to you. In other words, you can have something fast and cheap, but probably not reliable, or something cheap and reliable, but not quickly. This thinking was implanted in our brains and formed the tradeoffs when creating a new product, or project.
I'd like to suggest that there's a new iron triangle - the focus on how we need to work today. The great thing about the new triangle is that all three legs are valid, all the time, and the more we rely on each leg, the more value is generated. Sort of a virtuous cycle, as far as triangles are concerned.
My new triangle is composed of three attributes or features that dictate how we ought to work:
- Speed
- Transparency
- Collaboration
Note that many of you will say, "well, the old rule of pick any two still applies". Can you have speed and transparency, without sacrificing collaboration? Can you have rapid collaboration and transparency? I believe the answer is that all three are important, and when taken together, create a completely new way of working.
Let's look at each in turn. Why do we need "speed"? Given the pace of change in our products, services and general environment, speed is of the essence. Even fast followers have to be fast when product lifecycles and market trends get shorter all the time. Taking a slow and methodical approach is fine if you have a clear market leadership position and a significant lead over your competitors. Otherwise, get faster. Learn how to make decisions under less than ideal conditions. Don't wait for information, seek it out or have it seek you.
Why do we need transparency? In today's market, anyone and everyone is an analyst and a critic. Firms that close themselves up and don't engage the market are held in suspicion, while firms that embrace their customers and prospects are held in high regard. The more transparent your processes, intents and methods, and the more easily understood, the better. We all may be smarter, and have more information available, but that doesn't mean it's easily understood and digested. Complexity is out, transparency is in.
Collaboration is the final point, and it is the recognition that there are many more smart people in your customer base and your partner base than in your firm alone. Anyone still "going it alone" anymore is banking on the fact that their organization is smarter than the competition, and also the customer base, the partner base and the potential entrants. If P&G does not believe it can create all of its products and services in house, and turns to customers and partners for advice, what makes you think you can "go it alone"?
Now, the thinking is that collaboration may enhance transparency but diminish speed. That's true only if there's no trust involved. If, beyond mere collaboration there's trust established, the speed of the work can be increased as well.
To my way of thinking, these concepts - speed, transparency, collaboration - are the key building blocks for successful work in the future, building on what the market expects and changing radically from constraint based thinking (choose any two), and opening up to a completely integrated and engaged community.
I like reading about fast cars, is something that excites me, the Drenaline, the emotion you feel, I participate in amateur races at a young age because it is something that I love.
Wayne S. Bluhm
1269 Jennifer Lane
Durham, NC 27 703
Posted by: viagra online | May 26, 2010 at 09:35 AM