| Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory | Bid Directory |
Articles. News. Information. | |
Category of Information, News & Articles |
|
|
|
Create Your Methodology Based on a Standard Framework - Part One
OK. So you have decided that your organization has to improve the way in which it works. You have chosen to implement a methodology as the best way to achieve this goal. And now you ask yourself, where do I start? Whatever the discipline you are trying to model (from software development to supply chain management), it is highly probable that a standard framework exists, that can serve as the basis for your own methodology. WHAT IS A STANDARD FRAMEWORK? A standard framework is a set of best practices, normally expressed as a set of repeatable processes created by an organization (a professional association, university, public administration, etc...). These frameworks are sometimes referred to as bodies of knowledge, methodologies, etc... Standard frameworks cannot be applied out of the box. They are aimed at a wide spectrum of organizations and thus cannot be detailed to a level at which they are ready to use. In order to have an executable set of processes, a project has to be undertaken in order to fill the gap between the framework best practices and your methodology executable processes. This gap is filled when you have translated the best practices into concrete procedures and policies that take into account the characteristics of your organization and its environment. For example, when the framework says "determine which risks might affect the project and document their characteristics" the methodology can say "the project leader registers all project risks in the risk list and documents its characteristics". The methodology also provides a link to the excel spreadsheet that is used as a template for the risk list, and a description of the project leader role in the organization (skills needed, minimum experience, etc...) Some of the existing frameworks that can be used as a base for a methodology are the following: - IT Service Management: ITIL / COBIT / MOF ADVANTAGES OF USING A STANDARD FRAMEWORK - You can take advantage of the work made by experienced professionals in the field. - It establishes a standard terminology, that enhances communication both internally and externally. - It facilitates process benchmarking, so that you can know how well you are performing compared to other organizations. - Software vendors create products that are compliant with the framework, so you will be able to find software that automates your processes smoothly. - Your employees are motivated. They learn something that adds value to them professionally. - Mainstream frameworks evolve over time, so you will be able to enhance your methodology. WHICH FRAMEWORK SHOULD I CHOOSE? When choosing a framework the following must be taken into account: - Research and investigate. It is normal that several frameworks exist for one discipline. - Determine which standard best meets your needs in terms of industry, size of the organization, etc... - Determine how the standard integrates with standards of other disciplines. - Evaluate the structure of the framework. Does it have a uniform structure and format for all process descriptions? Does it name roles consistently? - Evaluate scope. Does it contains all the processes you need to describe? Does it make reference to the supporting systems? - Does it contain guidelines and templates? - Evaluate accordance to your company characteristics. You might find that one standard is too heavy for your needs. Having said this, please note that processes that seem very complex in the framework can be implemented through very simple processes that embed the most value-adding best practices. SUGGESTIONS - Implement processes gradually and start with those processes that demonstrate most value. - Choose a wining framework used by a big number of organizations. - Choose a framework that maps to a Capability Maturity Model. This way you can have a roadmap and gain visibility on where you want to be. Lucas Rodríguez Cervera is founder of Nevant - Process documentation software a company specialized in delivering process solutions to knowledge based companies. They pioneered this concept with metoCube. Lucas Rodríguez Cervera is founder of Nevant - Process documentation software, a company specialized in delivering process solutions to knowledge based companies. They pioneered this concept with metoCube.
MORE RESOURCES:
Management - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Test Your Hiring IQ The purpose of any selection process is to discriminate (albeit fairly) among job candidates. Your goal is to select the right people, with the right skills, at the right time for the right position. How to Prepare for Your Companys Financial Future Sooner or later, most business owners need to look for outside financing. Whether it's a line of credit with a bank to handle predictable cash crunches or a significant capital investment to improve plant and equipment, virtually every business will need access to additional funds at some point in its life. Why Training Fails Sometimes when I conduct my workshop on Effective Meetings, one of the participants will ask, "Where's my boss?"And I say, "Your boss claimed to be an expert on holding effective meetings."Then the person laughs. Drafting an Employee Manual Sample Outline One of the hardest things I had discovered running my company was drafting an Employee Manual. Also added to the stress was the fact that if you made a mistake someone could sue you and you might lose all your hard work and money that you had earned thru blood, sweat and tears as an entrepreneur. Using Employee Opinions Effectively When Designing HR Programs Using Employee Opinions Effectively When Designing HR ProgramsEmployee opinion is one of the most powerful resources available to human resource professionals. But what are the best methods for harnessing those opinions?Conversation - Welcoming feedback via informal conversation is the first step towards utilizing the viewpoints of employees. Can Your Business Run Without You? If you are a business owner or a business owner to be, let's examine this scenario.Like other people, you are so excited when you first started your own business. Knowledge Management - Keys to Successful Communities of Practice (Networks) How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How can I prevent my network becoming a "notwork"?Communities of practice (networks) lie at the heart of successful knowledge management in most organisations. They are the lifeblood of informal exchanges of knowledge. Collections Management How long does it take your customers, clients or patients to pay you for the products or services you have provided?Have you developed a consistent collection management program?Your answer to the above questions is a leading indicator as to how well you collection management is. Sending an invoice doesn't always result in payment. Narcissism in the Boardroom The perpetrators of the recent spate of financial frauds in the USA acted with callous disregard for both their employees and shareholders - not to mention other stakeholders. Psychologists have often remote-diagnosed them as "malignant, pathological narcissists". 10 Critical Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Consultant Talk to as many consultants as you can before hiring one. Even if you have one person or firm in mind, interview at least a few others as a sort of due diligence. Your Organization Is Only as Good as Your People Let's begin by singing the jingle from an old US Army commercial. Ready? Sing! "Be all that you can be, in the Aaaaarmy. Five Overlooked Ways To Hire Winners Here is a true story. My dentist did a "clinical" evaluation of my teeth. Twitch Speed: Reaching Younger Workers Who Think Differently Every parent, educator, and manager knows that "Nintendo children"--those born after 1970 and raised on video and computer games, Walkmans, the Internet, etc.--are different. Five Days to More Effective Inventory Management The litany of headaches related to the implementation and on-going care-and-feeding of enterprise-based inventory management applications (upgrading, downtime, maintenance, hardware obsolescence, and so on) is long. These implementation issues are enough make the savviest of companies want to engage in anything but another supply chain or inventory management software implementation. Change Management "It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change". -Charles DarwinThe world today is changing faster than ever before. People Skills: Eight Essential People Skills Being able to communicate effectively with others requires people skills, and here's eight essential ones:1. Understanding people People not only come in all shapes and sizes, but they come with different personality types as well. 5 Steps to Identify Core Processes Part Two of Creating Well-Defined Processes SeriesNext Week: ImplementationLast week, we raised the question: how do you know where to begin? How can you identify a gap in one of your company's core processes?The answer: follow the money trail?But how do you follow the money trail, and what will that mean for your business? To answer this, let's look at five steps to identify your core processes and any needs for change.Step 1: Define Your Business ModelThe following question might sound very basic, but you should first ask yourself: what business am I in? You'll ask this because you want to follow the money trail: to identify how exactly you earn revenue and from where that revenue comes. Creativity and Innovation Management in Conservative, Staid Organisations Conservative and staid organisations generally have a harder time implementing creativity and innovation into their day-to-day work processes and people. Leaders may want to capture the benefits of creativity and innovation, yet there may be relevant and almost contradictory issues that they have to deal with, including:a) It may be that a conservative culture is desirable (may result in a greater fit with the client base, for example). Doing More With Less This is a bottom-line environment.Decreasing the downtime of revenue producing employees is a major concern. Management Training: Are You Satisfied With The Results? If you're not satfied with the results of your management training programs, maybe it's because you handle training as a 'one shot' event rather than a process of developing your people to be better managers.One of the common misconceptions is that a manager can take a course and voila he is now skilled in communicating with others, or managing his time or delegating work.
|
| Home | Sitemap | |
| © 2006 eInfoJunction.com | Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory| Bid Directory |
