The “Systems Approach” to anything…
I am a “big picture” person. This means that I take a holistic approach when looking at a problem by identifying the various elements, functions and processes in order to understand how they all fit together. Doing this allows me to clearly see interactions and determine what is important from what is ineffectual.
Another application of this practice is when I am designing a system to achieve a particular outcome. Such a system requires strategic planning to ensure that all of the functions and activities in the system point in the right direction. Strategic planning usually starts with a Vision. Then an objective is set along with goals and specific actions to achieve the goals. In this manner, all of the efforts are focused on the objective. Activities that do not move toward the overall objective are adjusted or discarded.
In the very simplified system illustrated above, the desired outcome is to make money. This might be an internet point of sale website where buyers can actually make a purchase online. The buyers are represented by the red arrows. The pipe in the middle is a process that collects the buyers, educates them, and sorts the actual buyers from the lookers. Only the qualified buyers who are ready to make a purchase are then directed to the point of sale ecommerce website.
Again, this is a very simplified model for illustration purposes. Actual systems are very complex, with several processes intertwined to achieve the desired results. Mapping these functions and processes will give you a clear picture of your entire system so you can focus your efforts on activities that support your overall objective.
Future posts will go into much greater detail to describe some of the processes readily available that can help you to build your own system. Before you “jump in” to any “success system” or “automatic money making machine” you must understand how it fits in the big picture. Do your homework, and understand there is no “magic formula” that will effortlessly do all of the work for you.
There are some excellent automated processes that handle much of the education and sorting for you, but not one of them is going to magically draw people into those processes. You still must spread the word and share your vision to invite people into your own “system”.
But... isn’t that what networking is all about?
Another application of this practice is when I am designing a system to achieve a particular outcome. Such a system requires strategic planning to ensure that all of the functions and activities in the system point in the right direction. Strategic planning usually starts with a Vision. Then an objective is set along with goals and specific actions to achieve the goals. In this manner, all of the efforts are focused on the objective. Activities that do not move toward the overall objective are adjusted or discarded.
In the very simplified system illustrated above, the desired outcome is to make money. This might be an internet point of sale website where buyers can actually make a purchase online. The buyers are represented by the red arrows. The pipe in the middle is a process that collects the buyers, educates them, and sorts the actual buyers from the lookers. Only the qualified buyers who are ready to make a purchase are then directed to the point of sale ecommerce website.
Again, this is a very simplified model for illustration purposes. Actual systems are very complex, with several processes intertwined to achieve the desired results. Mapping these functions and processes will give you a clear picture of your entire system so you can focus your efforts on activities that support your overall objective.
Future posts will go into much greater detail to describe some of the processes readily available that can help you to build your own system. Before you “jump in” to any “success system” or “automatic money making machine” you must understand how it fits in the big picture. Do your homework, and understand there is no “magic formula” that will effortlessly do all of the work for you.
There are some excellent automated processes that handle much of the education and sorting for you, but not one of them is going to magically draw people into those processes. You still must spread the word and share your vision to invite people into your own “system”.
But... isn’t that what networking is all about?
posted by Scott at 1:12 PM
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