Workers Will Replace Your Procedures With Their Own
From the Eye on the Workforce Blog
by Joe Wynne
Workforce management is a key part of project success, but project managers often find it difficult to get trustworthy information on what really works. From interpersonal interactions to big workforce issues we'll look the latest research and proven techniques to find the most effective solutions for your projects.
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Forget what you lay down as work rules, employees are likely to do whatever they think is more efficient. At least that’s what a new study finds about workers at large American companies. What happens is that many more come up with their own solutions than turn to supervisors or managers. And how does the following make you feel? Thirty-seven percent say they sometimes ignore company rules “because they’ve developed better ways of getting work done.” Does that scare you? What about customer service? Regulatory compliance?
Here’s the thing: You’re going to have to deal with this. Workers today want to work autonomously, and evidently will whether you want them to or not. Set up a process that allows them more freedom to innovate. You want them to do this. Let them know the objectives of their efforts, and let them know the constraints (regulatory requirements for example). Let them know best practices. But then let them find the most efficient way. They can surprise you – in a good way!
Posted on: September 13, 2007 08:25 AM |
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Comments (2)
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As a 911 dispatcher, and an IT student, with more than 20 years experience in law enforcement, I can honestly say that at least in these narrow sectors of existence, the bosses don't seem to have a clue. We are saddled with poor performing hardware and software and are then expected to jump through the arbitrary hoops that management erects. Is it any wonder that we bypass the system where necessary? If the hoops are truly necessary, then the workers have to be trained why the hoops exist. Just because somebody says "because I said so" doesn't cut it. It never has, and it never will.
If people are developing their own procedures to get things done, it is because the "standard" procedures do not fit the work. Find out how the work is actually getting accomplished. If appropriate, share these better procedures with the rest of the staff so everyone can improve. If these "shadow" procedures are actually better than the official procedures, replace the official procedures.
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