As it is important to give human creativity certain order to achieve an outcome, it is not less important to allow certain amount of creativity within order. Evolution is a process of adaptation. Adaptability of a system is a measure of how well creativity and order can work together in achieving outcomes.
How could we get the best results from our creativity?
In the current global economy, only the companies that change their processes so that they can better connect to the power streams of their business networks, can achieve dominant positions in their market sectors.
One of the biggest challenges of many business environments, and particularly those who must externalise, is the specialisation of their systems versus required flexibility. The more in-depth, industry-specific and customised software, the harder it is to make adjustments when application criteria change. As it may be understood, some organisations historically needed a fully internalised system with maximum security and rigid processes. However, as the market has been changing, the trend would turn towards more flexible solutions.
It proves to be ineffective to rely on internal systems only. Even depending on intranets, extranets or cloud computing doesn't help much as long as they are replete with rigid procedures and measures. On the other hand, it is just as ineffective using open, limitless, 'wiki-like' systems.
Many companies call for both: solutions which can be rigid when necessary, yet flexible when required. Steps, procedures and access levels always need to be adjusted to specific conditions without compromising process integrity or standards. A system that would bridge over different fields of expertise, attitudes and cultures might bring the solution to many challenges related to inter-corporate partnerships.
Abillance.com has been conceived to fill this gap. Based on proven methods in real-life managerial practices, Abillance.com can deliver customisable balance between flexibility and rigidity.
Creativity vs. Order
Creativity without order is chaotic. Any action, in order to achieve its purpose, needs a system which enables components of activity (tasks and work steps) to be executed in certain logical sequence. If the system controlling work processes is too rigid, creativity is compromised. If the system is too permissive, creativity becomes counterproductive.
Every type of a customer, product or service calls for a different, if not specific, process. The more a system is capable of adapting to its external and internal requirements, the better the system is. Then the idea is to create a system which would work with varying levels of flexibility; changing information links, structures, processes and set-ups as needed and almost at a key stroke.
When considering the acquisition of a new business or management system, the following ‘big picture’ questions should be asked and possibly answered:
- What do I need to improve my business for?
- How do I know it?
- What exactly do I need to improve in my business?
- How do I know it?
- Is the nature of my core business based on production process, one-off, few-off customer order or delivery of turnkey projects?
- Does my business depend upon external collaboration or is fully internally self-sufficient?
- Do I incline towards unification or diversification of my business processes?
- What level of systemic automation do I believe would be the most appropriate for the improvement? (Level of automation is the extent between people involved and machines involved in a business process. Generally, the more flexibility is required, the more and more often a human input is needed. )
- How fast are my business conditions evolving?
- How often do I need to amend changes in my business processes?
- What (from a systemic point of view) does a typical change involve?
- How does a typical change affect my economy, finance, operations and HR?
- To which extent can I amend typical changes within the system I am currently using?
- What features would I expect from a new system regarding adaptability to amended changes?
The above questions are suggestive only and lead clearly to the specification of required extent of systemic flexibility and adaptability. On the other hand, even the most flexible business processes need rights, rules & procedures to avoid erratic behaviour caused by untamed creativity. Similar to a system; rights, rules & procedures can also be rigid or flexible depending upon the temporary needs for their associated business processes. Rights, rules & procedures can be secured by legal, organisational or systemic means. The more a system is capable of integrating legal and organisational requirements within associated business processes, the less need there is for contractual and managerial work to safeguard stakeholders’ interests. (Reference to Organisational Design).
