Improving business processes can be a great way to increase the value of a company. As companies grow and change, they gradually become more complex – more people are involved in day-to-day operations, data is broken up between different systems, and there is more variability in what customers purchase and expect. This means the processes are overly complex, variable, and difficult to control which adds cost and risk to the business. To continue growing, to improve margin, and to create a scalable company, these processes should be evaluated and improved.

The crucial first step of effective process improvement is setting clear, achievable goals that connect your process initiatives to business value. These goals are the foundation of each improvement project – they will be the basis of your communication to the managers and employees working on the projects, make it clear why certain improvements are being prioritized over others, and will provide accountability for hitting specific targets.  Continue reading....