Inefficiency Gremlins

For many creative people, ‘process’is almost a dirty word. Flexibility and spontaneity are swept into a mindless void of dull and boring routine. Do the same thing over and over again, all day, every day. 

An organized process doesn’t have to be some gremlin lurking in the dark. In fact, it can keep the gremlins from knocking at the door of your business. By developing a system, routine tasks can be done quickly and smoothly, freeing up valuable time and energy for more important things. It can also save your business some money.

Consider the case of a major film production. Expensive actors are already on the set, props and scenery have been built, and the production crew is ready to shoot. Time is money, and every second counts. One of the major reasons films go over budget is inefficient use of time on the set. Since a skilled production crew is often paid by the hour, the last thing a director wants is a costly delay or even worse, having to shoot the scene again months later. 

Having a good system in place helps avoid having to do a reshoot for your business. The key to developing a system is common sense and communication. Look at the process and break it down into its component parts. Ask yourself if every step is necessary and why it’s needed.

Examine the characteristics of your organization and figure out what you need from your system. Do you value speed? Accuracy? Do you have large amounts of different data that you want to track? The answers to these questions will help you determine what sort of system you need. Even the best system won’t be able to do all of these things equally well. 

Communication is a vital part as well. Different people work in different ways. A system isn’t any good for an organization if it only works for you. It’s important to make sure the people working for you have access to the resources they need to make the system work. 

Another thing to consider is outsourcing. Sometimes developing and maintaining an in-house system isn’t worth the trouble. You may find that another company specializing in a particular field simply has more expertise. You’re giving up control for the convenience of having someone else deal with it. In some cases, it’s worth it. In other cases, you may find yourself dissatisfied with the results.

It's up to you to determine what will work best for your company. Whatever method you choose, a good system can help keep your gremlins contained and your production on time and on budget.