FO RUM
organizations suffer from an imbalance
with how much emphasis they should
place on being smart rather than being healthy. Most organizations overemphasize trying to be smart by hiring
MBAs and management consultants
with a quest to achieve a run-it-by-thenumbers management style. These
types of organizations miss the relevance of how important is to also be
healthy – assuring that employee morale is high and employee turnover is
low. To be healthy they also need to assure that managers and employees are
deeply involved in understanding the
leadership team’s strategic intent and
direction setting. Healthy behavior improves the likelihood of employee buyin and commitment. Analytics and EPM
methods are much more than numbers,
dials, pulleys and levers. People matter
. . . a lot.
When organizations embark upon
applying or expanding its use of analytics and EPM methods, I believe they
need two plans: (1) an implementation
plan, and (2) a communication plan. The
second plan is arguably much more important than the first.
WHAT DEFINES SUCCESS?
Overcoming barriers is no small
task. Cultural and behavioral obstacles not only include that resistance to
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change but also include some co-workers who fear the consequences of knowing the truth. But driving social change in
others is achievable. It requires motivation to want to make a difference in an
organization’s performance and to provide others with insights and foresight for
them to make better decisions.
Overcoming barriers also requires influencing others to be more open-minded.
After all, one can never choose an alternative that has not even been considered.
Although I am an optimist by nature,
I am also a perpetual worrier. I cannot
shut out the pessimistic voice on my one
shoulder constantly warning me about
what can go wrong. Maybe that is OK because that voice forces me to think about
contingency plans to cope with unplanned
and unexpected events and outcomes.
I believe we all need both voices. Just
do not shut down the positive voice. It is a
corny line, but where there is a will there
is a way. Try not to only see the prison
window bars but also the stars.
Gary Cokins ([email protected]) is
the founder of Analytics-Based Performance
Management LLC, an advisory firm. A member
of INFORMS, he is an internationally recognized
expert, speaker and author in advanced cost
management and performance improvement
systems. He was previously a principal consultant
with SAS. For more of Cokins’ unique look at the
world, visit his website at www.garycokins.com.
A version of this article appeared in Information
Management.
W W W. I N F O R M S . O R G