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7 Steps to Business Performance Improvement

1) Identify a performance problem

There must be a problem with how the business is performing. If there’s nothing to improve, don’t waste time trying to improve it.

2) Create/Identify a business goal

How do you know there’s a performance problem? Something’s falling short of your expectations. Turn your attention to what the desired performance looks like. Define it as accurately as possible so it’s clear to not only you, but those around you.

3) Understand the root cause of the problem

Loop back to the problem, but this time look deeper. Identify why the problem exists. Complex problems might have multiple contributing factors.

4) Design a solution aligned with the business goal

You’re clear about what the performance problem is, why it exists, and what good performance looks like. How can you neutralize the problem and move the business from it’s current state to the desired state?

5) Identify and/or create the resources needed for the design

Something will need to be identified, improved, changed or newly created. Here you develop the design.

6) Implement the solution

It’s time to launch your solution into the world!

7) Evaluate it’s effectiveness

Did performance improve? To what extent? Did you reach the business goal? If not, why not? Note that evaluation isn’t an afterthought; it needs to be built into the design.