What is simplification in business processes? It is the process of removing unimportant tasks from existing roles in order to make operations more focused and goal-oriented. The objective of work simplification is to develop improved work methods that maximize output while minimizing expenditure and cost and under the present circumstances, I believe, simplifying work processes is imperative for both, aiding business continuity and ensuring employee wellness. Women entrepreneurs who more often than not, swim against the tide to sustain their business, must adopt the golden rule of simplifying work to ease out some of the pressure which encapsulates them. Let us take a look at some strategies which will simplify work and drive successful entrepreneurship:-
- To simplify – study the market and competition and focus on the essential. Recording market behaviour over a period of time and generating valuable insights using this data will help entrepreneurs in strategizing and forecasting future business plans. This would pave the way for having robust business growth plans in place which will work seamlessly.
- To simplify – create a routine. Structuring and planning is very important which will help you to save time and remain focused. Working without a plan is never a good idea. Planning things on specific days, do them in a specific way, and having a lot of templates and workflows charted out for the same will help you to avoid complications and stay on track.
- To simplify – Conserve cash no matter how good business is – When a business has cash flow, then it means that it will always be in a position to pay suppliers, meet payroll and pay for other expenses that come with running the business. This means that cash conservation is something that business owners should learn to be able to meet cash demands even in times of crises. This will rule out any possibility of business disruption and provide you with the much-needed peace of mind!
- To simplify – Don’t tackle huge markets at first; begin with small if you are a start-up. Having less to handle will allow you to put in your best efforts, which is imperative for a new business model. Quality in your products/services should remain unmatched. Gradually, as you grow, you will be able to handle quality and quantity together.
- To simplify – Be flexible. Flexible working conditions and extended benefit policies reduce worker stress, and open work environments that promote more relaxed person-to-person interactions leading to enhanced creativity. Also, organizations are simplifying onboarding processes and work in response to employees becoming overwhelmed by increasing organizational complexity, growing information overload, and a stressful 24/7 work environment owing to the hybrid work format.
- To simplify – Respond to and adopt change. Considering the present circumstances, I would say, automate as much as possible. Automating some of the more time-consuming tasks of their daily routines, will not only make them simple to do but also save time. Adopting design thinking, work redesign, and technology replacements are becoming critical programs for HR and business models seeking to simplify work practices and systems.
Edward R. Tufte rightly said, “Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information.” So, let us utilize the simplification technique, eliminate the non-essentials and march ahead on the path of progress!
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
Poonam Sinha
