Building a Strong Foundation: The Interconnected Pillars of Organizational Success
Without a standard, there is no logical basis for making a decision or taking action." — Joseph M. Juran
Let’s imagine we are constructing a building 🏛️. The foundation is carefully laid, and the pillars are meticulously placed to ensure stability and strength. Each pillar has its unique role, but they all work together to support the entire structure.
In this blog I will share the 4 pillars I practice for Business Process Management. These are Resources, Knowledge Management, Governance, and Metric Monitoring. They are the architectural elements that have worked for me to create a solid framework for organizational success. Just like in architecture, if one pillar weakens, the whole structure can become unstable. Let’s dive into each one and explore how they work together to build a robust foundation for growth.
1. Resources
They form the essential building blocks that give shape and form to any project. For me, Resources encompass end-to-end processes, procedures, and reference guides. These are the detailed blueprints and materials necessary to construct an efficient and well-organized operation. Without a solid set of resources, the structure lacks substance and form, making it nearly impossible to build anything sustainable. This is what provides stakeholders with clarity and starts to bridge the gap within teams 🤝
2. Knowledge Management
It’s not enough to have the right Resources; you also need to know how to put the information together and who the audience is. Using Knowledge Management ensures that existing stakeholders and subject matter expertise (SMEs) are guided correctly by delivering them the right information in the most effective format. It involves identifying, creating, capturing, acquiring, sharing, and leveraging knowledge.
3. Governance
This is all about keeping the Resource and Knowledge Management pillars current and accurate, so they don't go outdated and become obsolete. Governance establishes a cadence for reviewing and updating resources, whether on a scheduled basis or in response to ad-hoc changes. This often-overlooked aspect is crucial for maintaining the framework's strength and reliability. When governance is in place, teams can focus on their core activities without constantly questioning the validity of their documents!!
4. Metric Monitoring
This pillar measures the value and success of processes at both organizational and monetary levels. It’s about understanding how well the structure functions—how many people are using the process documents, how much time is saved, the impact on various roles, and the revenue generated or conserved as a result. Without Resources, Knowledge Management, and Governance, we can’t regularly monitor that processes stay current and efficient. In turn, when the rest of the pillars are as an ongoing cycle, organizations can then think about its Future Growth Paths and create continuous improvement.
Each pillar supports and strengthens the others, ensuring a stable, scalable, and successful growth path. When one pillar is ignored, an entire process is at risk. That’s why I emphasize the interconnectedness of Resources, Knowledge Management, Governance, and Metric Monitoring—they are the foundations upon which I build, maintain, and grow.
Share with me! What are the pillars you use to maintain your processes structured?
