Good People...Good Processes

I’ve said before that people are more important that process.

I’ve said it in many different ways and in many different articles.  After every article, I receive responses from readers similar to these:

After receiving these types of responses, I always have to go back and say the same thing…I agree. I agree. I agree.

Good processes are important.  Good processes drive efficiency Good processes drive execution.

I also receive a lot of comments about process improvement, six sigma, continuos improvement, etc etc.  All good stuff too.  John Bauer has some great ideas about process improvement. Glenn Whitfield has some wonderful thoughts on the subject as well.

But…what is a good process?

According to the IT Toolbox, a good process should have the following characteristics:

• Transparent
• Obvious
• Complete
• Efficient
• Predictable

Not a bad set of characteristics…all things that I’d consider making up a good process.

People over Process (?)

If I believe that processes are important, why do I still stay that people are more important?

Because a process is …. well … a process.

Process is a cog in the machine.  Process is an activity.  Process is something to be done.

Can process exist without people? Sure it can.

Do good processes always lead to good outcomes.  Not always but they give you a better opportunity to succeed.

Can good processes exist without people? Not really.

You can’t have a transparent process without people around that understand what should be occurring during the process. The same can be said of the other aspects of a ‘good process’.

Good People Make Good Processes

Rather than saying ‘process over people’ in the future, I think I’ll starting saying “good people make good processes”.

Perhaps I”ll add one more word to make this:

Good People. Good Processes. Good Strategy.

Those three things can make an organization unstoppable.