Comments on: Knowledge work and micro-processes http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:06:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Tony Karrer http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-178873 Tony Karrer Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:55:41 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-178873 Late to the game on this one. It sparked a couple of thoughts. In looking at performance of knowledge workers, while there is not really one-size-fits-all as in Taylor solutions, in many cases you can find improvements on a one-off basis. However, as you point out, if what you are doing, is simply speeding the mess. Still, I'm not sure what the "overall improvement strategy" can be - especially when knowledge worker effectiveness and efficiency seems so personal. Late to the game on this one. It sparked a couple of thoughts.

In looking at performance of knowledge workers, while there is not really one-size-fits-all as in Taylor solutions, in many cases you can find improvements on a one-off basis. However, as you point out, if what you are doing, is simply speeding the mess.

Still, I’m not sure what the “overall improvement strategy” can be - especially when knowledge worker effectiveness and efficiency seems so personal.

]]> By: Jim McGee http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-176917 Jim McGee Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:10:03 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-176917 Do you think life would be improved for knowledge workers if we made a more explicit distinction between practice and performance? I've always thought that one of the unappreciated challenges of organizational work is that we are nearly always in performance mode; there's rarely time for anything resembling practice or rehearsal. Do you think life would be improved for knowledge workers if we made a more explicit distinction between practice and performance? I’ve always thought that one of the unappreciated challenges of organizational work is that we are nearly always in performance mode; there’s rarely time for anything resembling practice or rehearsal.

]]> By: Elliot Ross http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-176368 Elliot Ross Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:53:49 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-176368 IMHO A musician, an artist, or an olympian do not practice or study the same way - but they all know what the output of their efforts should be. The work that delivers that output is where the flexibility lies. IMHO

A musician, an artist, or an olympian do not practice or study the same way - but they all know what the output of their efforts should be.

The work that delivers that output is where the flexibility lies.

]]> By: Jim McGee http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-175652 Jim McGee Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:52:53 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-175652 Paul - i think you are definitely on to something in the notion that knowledge workers need to manage their own processes. This will likely represent quite a shift in thinking for organizations and for knowledge workers themselves Paul - i think you are definitely on to something in the notion that knowledge workers need to manage their own processes. This will likely represent quite a shift in thinking for organizations and for knowledge workers themselves

]]> By: PaulSweeney http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-175642 PaulSweeney Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:48:47 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-175642 Super posting. I am going to reflect on this some more. There may be some serious implications for knowledge workers to "manage their own processes", and indeed, the ability to build this capability . Super posting. I am going to reflect on this some more. There may be some serious implications for knowledge workers to “manage their own processes”, and indeed, the ability to build this capability .

]]> By: Elliot Ross http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/comment-page-1/#comment-175404 Elliot Ross Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:17:09 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/08/27/knowledge-work-and-micro-processes/#comment-175404 Jim, Loved the post! I could not agree more, you can call it "speeding up the mess" or "automating broken processes" the result is the same. In the context of Taylor though - we can get a start by looking less at the activity (or activities) in these processes (or micro processes) and look at the "inputs" and "outputs" that get to the desired result. If we can successfully define these we get several benefits; 1) Areas where the process breaks down time-wise can be identified 2) Unneeded or wasted steps in the micro process can be identified. Then (and only then, in my opinion) can it be identified if a technology solution (such as your Sharepoint example) can benefit in improving the processing speed of one or more of those inputs and outputs. Regards Jim, Loved the post!

I could not agree more, you can call it “speeding up the mess” or “automating broken processes” the result is the same.

In the context of Taylor though - we can get a start by looking less at the activity (or activities) in these processes (or micro processes) and look at the “inputs” and “outputs” that get to the desired result.

If we can successfully define these we get several benefits;

1) Areas where the process breaks down time-wise can be identified

2) Unneeded or wasted steps in the micro process can be identified.

Then (and only then, in my opinion) can it be identified if a technology solution (such as your Sharepoint example) can benefit in improving the processing speed of one or more of those inputs and outputs.

Regards

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