Do I as a business owner, understand where and how my business makes money when markets are buoyant, skilled resources are easy to attain and retain and as a result, my business is providing me with all the money I could ask for? The answer is almost always No! Markets change, cash becomes scarce, people more discerning where they spend their money, those skilled resources leave for greener pastures and the business as suddenly as it was prosperous swings into negative growth without warning. Call the mentors, call the Analysts - "where are we going wrong"
This need not be the case if we pro-actively apply a little science to the health of our businesses. If this is done when the going is good, you will notice the slightest changes either upwards or downwards in the business. When skilled resources are available and retainable, you will capture their business knowledge and skills, which is why you pay them well in the first place.
If I as the business owner knows and understands the "value streams" which make up my business and the processes which underpin these value streams. If the other participants who carry out the processes and the steps within them, know and understand what is expected, how much better off would the business be to withstand changes in the markets . The fairly costly person we hired to guide an important section of the business has now left and we actually have captured the knowledge this person contributed.
I searched long and hard and found a tool which is easy for anyone to use and to begin to capture this knowledge of the value streams, the processes which make up these streams and the business benefits of this first step in taking pro-active control.
It can be found at www.processmaster.com and there is a 21 day trial download for those who wish to see how it works