My recent blog post generated a lot of positive feedback about the need for companies to include additional measurements, along with money, when discussing the benefits of their continuous improvement (CI) program with employees and other key stakeholders. So much so, that I promised to continue with Part II of the discussion.
Contrary to popular belief, not all CI projects are designed to focus on cost savings. Many may actually cost the company money to achieve the stated goal. These projects can include implementing program enhancements to increase customer satisfaction, meeting safety regulations, and complying with governmental regulations. Yet the return on investment for each of these types of projects can have significant positive impact on a company.
For example, I co-led a project that focused on corporate compliance with federal safety issues. Through the use of CI methodologies, we were able to evaluate the requirements, identify potential gaps, and develop plans to ensure that all departments were in compliance. While this project did not have demonstrable direct savings, the costs of not implementing this program could have had devastating results for the company, including significant fines and penalties.
CI can, and should, have an impact on every part of the company. The more clearly leaders can communicate all the benefits of a CI program (both financial and intrinsic), the faster employees, shareholders, and customers will be onboard.
It doesn’t matter how great your CI program is; if there’s no buy-in from your team and if staff isn’t engaged, it will never happen. Through stakeholder management and communications planning, I help clients develop and deliver clear key messages, as well as solicit feedback from the right people within the organization.
If you have a business process that needs a “check-up,” please email me! I’d love to help you get back to a healthy, productive workplace!
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