Summiting complex challenges: Managing team efficiency to get to the top

As an owner of complex change initiatives, successfully navigating those initiatives is much like rock climbing. In much the same way as a climber trains to manoeuvre the physical and mental challenges of a rockface, an organisation must align its teams and capabilities to successfully overcome business challenges and deliver value. 

Business Resources > Strength

Business challenges require specific skills or abilities to overcome them. Time and time again, we’ve witnessed businesses take-on large and complex initiatives without first ensuring they are equipped with the resources (i.e., personnel, skills, and tools) to tackle those initiatives. In much the same way, the strength of a climber allows them to implement changes in their hold to successfully navigate from one milestone to the next. In business, larger and more specialised resource pools must be applied, and often for longer periods of time, to achieve greater milestones.

Larger, more specialised resource pools must be applied for longer periods to achieve greater milestones

Business Process > Technique

When an organisation’s resources operate without a well-organised delivery process, it often results in wasted effort, leading to delays and increased costs. In the same way, if a climber applies his / her strength incorrectly, they will tire and find themselves stuck – literally – between a rock and a hard place. In business, some goals will be unachievable without a refined and unified approach, regardless of how much effort is invested in them or how skilled the teams are. Just as a climber shifts their weight, or hooks themselves on to a secure grip, teams need to organically adapt and tweak their delivery approach to overcome the challenges at hand.

Business Vision > Commitment

A clear vision and the unified commitment to achieving their goals are what keeps both the organisation and the climber focused, through their respective pursuits. We believe the purposeful vision (of a team, project, and the company) is crucial in ensuring resources and processes are working together to achieve the same end goal. A balance between strength and technique enables a climber to reach the summit.

Over the years, BSG has guided many organisations to effectively align their resources, processes and vision, and ultimately increase their ability to navigate complex challenges. 

In our experience, neglecting just one of these aspects can result in organisational pitfalls: 

• Streamlined but Incomplete Initiatives: Resources and Process without Vision results in initiatives that rarely achieve their KPIs or realise business benefits 
• Unity with Disorganised execution: Resources and Vision with immature Processes result in wasted planning and implementation effort and ultimately re-work 
• Coordination with Limited Capability: Process and Vision with limited Resources results in inability to affect change in the organisation, either due to limited capacity or a lack of the necessary skills and tools

Alignment of resources, processes and vision is key to successfully navigating complex business transformation programmes

Ultimately, an organisation with established and aligned Resources, Process, and Vision will reap the benefits of Efficiency and Efficacy where all three areas are prevalent. There is no silver bullet when it comes to effectively unifying resources, process, and vision. It requires awareness of the challenges, a desire to embrace and invest in change, and the time and patience to keep on working at it. Consider how your business is – or should be – using these aspects to maximise valuable delivery.

Unifying resources, process and vision requires awareness of the challenges, an investment in the change, and time to execute it

BSG has over 24 years of experience advising South African businesses on how these three aspects (resources, process, and vision) can work together, to solve complex problems in complex environments.