Vala Afshar’s Post

I just dove into the recently released "Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization’s Potential" by Gil Broza, a book that is great for leaders in software development and project management. In my latest review on the Game Production Alchemist blog, I unpack some of the most compelling insights from this potentially influential book. Broza's work is a deep dive into the evolution of organisational fitness, introducing a model that articulates five levels of system maturity. This model is an enlightening tool, shedding light on how each stage, from a nascent phase of limited contribution to the pinnacle of realising full potential, marks a significant step in an organisation's growth. It's a revelation in understanding how every aspect of an organisation can be aligned and contribute to its fundamental purpose, paving the way for a holistic transformation. Central to the book is the SQUARE Framework, which stands out for its practicality and depth. SQUARE explores six critical aspects of system fitness - throughput, outcomes, timeliness, adaptability, consistency, and cost-efficiency. This framework serves as a robust lens for viewing and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of a value delivery system. It's an essential guide for leaders looking to assess and elevate their organisation's operational health, pushing them to consider long-term, sustainable success over short-term gains. Perhaps most intriguing and validating for me is Broza's emphasis on incremental improvements over sweeping, radical changes. This nuanced approach recognises that enduring change is a journey, not a sprint. The book provides leaders with actionable tactics and methods to advance through various levels of fitness, ensuring that changes are both practical and in sync with the company's overarching objectives. These insights collectively offer a strategic blueprint for fostering a positive culture, building resilient teams, and expertly navigating the complexities of the modern business and technological environment. For leaders seeking to propel their organisations forward, this book is an invaluable resource. Total thumbs-up! Head over to the Game Production Alchemist blog to read my full review and discover how these insights can transform your leadership approach. https://lnkd.in/ecTJQFKZ #lean #flow #agile #projectmanagement #transformation

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 "𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞" Operations strategy is the backbone of any organization, shaping how it designs, manages, and optimizes its processes to achieve its goals. Today, I want to explore the fascinating metaphor of Elephants 🐘 and Cheetahs 🐆 to shed light on two distinct approaches in operations strategy. 🐘 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: In the world of operations, elephants represent large, established organizations that prioritize stability, efficiency, and long-term planning. Elephants excel at executing large-scale projects, managing complex supply chains, and maintaining high-quality standards. With their emphasis on scalability and process optimization, elephants achieve economies of scale and drive down costs while mitigating risks. 🐆 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐬: On the other hand, cheetahs symbolize agile, adaptable organizations that prioritize innovation, speed, and flexibility. Cheetahs foster a culture of collaboration, cross-functional teams, and decentralized decision-making, empowering employees to take ownership and drive innovation. Leveraging emerging technologies and data-driven insights, cheetahs excel at product development, customization, and providing personalized experiences. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐬. Organizations need to evaluate their industry, market dynamics, and strategic objectives to determine which approach is most suitable. Some industries may benefit from elephants' focus on stability and efficiency, while others may require cheetahs' ability to quickly adapt to disruptive trends and customer preferences. As professionals in operations strategy, it is crucial for us to understand these metaphors and their implications. 𝐁𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Let's embrace the power of elephants and cheetahs in shaping successful operations strategies and driving organizational excellence! 🌟 #Operationstrategy #ElephantsAndCheetahs #Agility #Innovation #Efficiency #LinkedIn #agile #planning #growth #projects #data #development

The point of Success Criteria is a bit skewed when it comes to large Frameworks. The stakeholders push their vested interests on the pretext of Training programs, Certifications and compliance. The more important Performance and operational factors are put on the back burner. I see SAFe as more of a grandiosity and a group of power mongers.

How do we measure the success of organizational change? How do we take action it the actual course deviates from the desired one?

Leveraging the Pareto Principle for Maximum Efficiency: A Guide for Leaders 🚀 Unlocking Productivity with the 80/20 Rule Leaders and professionals, have you ever noticed how often a small fraction of your efforts lead to the majority of your results? This is the Pareto Principle in action: 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. Here’s how you can apply this powerful insight to boost your productivity and strategic focus. 🔍 Step 1: Identify Your 20% 1. Begin by listing all your projects or products. 2. Evaluate each for its contribution to revenue, growth potential, and strategic value. 3. Prioritize the top performers for your focus and resources. 🎯 Step 2: Prioritize Your Efforts Allocate the majority of your time and resources to these high-impact areas. Consider scaling down or pausing less critical projects to concentrate on what truly matters. 🔄 Step 3: Continuously Refine 1. Use regular reviews to assess and adjust your focus based on performance data and market feedback. 2. Stay flexible and ready to pivot your strategy as new opportunities arise. 💡 Techniques for Easy Adaptation 1. Employ regular analysis and feedback loops to identify high-impact areas. 2. Use prioritization tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to systematically evaluate tasks. 3. Combine the Pareto Principle with other productivity methods for even greater efficiency. Key Takeaways: 1. Focus on the Critical 20%: Concentrate on the efforts that yield the most significant results. 2. Strategic Allocation: Direct your resources to these high-impact areas for maximum effectiveness. 3. Adapt and Evolve: Regularly review and adjust your priorities to stay aligned with your goals. Embrace the Pareto Principle to not just work harder, but smarter. By focusing on what truly matters, you can drive greater success and achieve more with less. Let’s make efficiency our advantage. Read full here https://lnkd.in/dH_bJXX9 #Leadership #Productivity #ParetoPrinciple #TimeManagement #StrategicFocus #ceo #founderstories #founderjourney #founderlife #founders

🚀 Exciting Times! Tips for Process Optimization During Company Scaling 📈 As companies experience rapid growth and scaling, ensuring smooth operations becomes paramount. Here are some golden nuggets for optimizing processes during these exhilarating times: 1. Map it Out: Start by mapping your existing processes. Identify bottlenecks, redundancies, and areas needing streamlining. A clear view is the first step towards improvement. 2. Prioritize Scalability: Choose processes that are adaptable and scalable. Solutions that work today may not tomorrow. Flexibility ensures your operations keep up with the pace. 3. Tech Integration: Leverage technology wisely. Automation, data analytics, and collaborative tools can revolutionize operations, reducing manual work and boosting efficiency. 4. Cross-Functional Teams: As departments expand, communication is key. Foster cross-functional collaboration to break down silos, enhance knowledge sharing, and refine processes. 5. Feedback Loops: Stay connected with employees on the ground. Their insights can reveal pain points and innovative solutions that might otherwise go unnoticed. 6. Measure and Iterate: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to track process efficiency. Regularly assess results, make data-driven decisions, and iterate on processes as needed. 7. Training and Onboarding: As your team grows, ensure proper training and onboarding processes are in place. A well-prepared team ensures consistency in execution. 8. Continuous Learning: Encourage a culture of learning and improvement. Stay updated on industry trends and best practices to infuse fresh ideas into your optimization strategies. 9. Customer-Centric Approach: Scaling is about delivering value at an increased pace. Keep customer satisfaction at the heart of your process optimization efforts. 10. Leadership Alignment: Ensure leadership is aligned with the optimization goals. When everyone is on the same page, decisions are streamlined, and progress is faster. Remember, scaling isn't just about growth—it's about doing so sustainably. Embrace these tips, and let's keep those processes running like a well-oiled machine! 💼🌟 #ProcessOptimization #ScalingSuccess #EfficiencyMatters #ContinuousImprovement

For today’s Tech Product Leadership Reading List recommendation, I offer you “The Technology Fallacy" by Gerald Kane et al. – another gold mine for technology product or project leaders concerned about thier organization’s relevance in the ever-evolving technological landscape. This book explores key topics including: 1. Digital Transformation-Gain insights into how technology is reshaping industries and the role of product managers in driving successful digital transformations. 2. Innovation and Disruption-Discover strategies for fostering innovation, leveraging emerging technologies, and capitalizing on disruptive opportunities. 3. Data and Analytics-Explore the power of data-driven decision-making and the challenges and ethical considerations associated with it. 4. Agile and Lean Methodologies-Learn about agile and lean approaches and how they enhance collaboration, customer-centricity, and product delivery. 5. Ethics and Responsibility-Examine the ethical implications of technology and the responsibility of product managers in ensuring responsible implementation. "The Technology Fallacy" provides practical guidance, real-world examples, and thought-provoking insights for technology product and project managers. I hope you too will add this to your reading list to help you thrive in today's evolving technological landscape! Learn. Lead. Thrive. #techleaders #techleadersreadinglist #productmanagement #transformation #innovation #disruption #learn #lead #thrive https://lnkd.in/gSRH7j6g

The Art of Navigating Organizational Dynamics in a Cutthroat Industry: Masterclass in Action In business, we continuously encounter several moving parts - it's like playing a complex game of chess. It requires foresight, critical thinking, and strategy. As the Chief Scientist of Impro.AI I've been focusing on understanding how to guide or clients to excel in this vast game - mastering the skill of leveraging organizational resources, comprehending market trends, and aligning personal growth with their company's strategic direction. Think of your organizational resources as chess pieces. Each piece, from pawns to the king, plays a crucial role. Same in a workplace, every team member, the machinery, and the intellectual property - they're all resources to capitalize on. Next, understanding market trends is recognizing the game board. It's about knowing how and where the pieces move in response to industry dynamics, ensuring your strategy aligns with the bigger picture. Remember, personal growth and alignment with the company's strategic direction are two sides of the same coin. It's essential to develop skills that won't just catapult your career but also push your organization forward. Like how a chess grandmaster hones his strategy to drive the team to victory. As professionals in a competitive industry, we are the chess players, constantly striving for the home run. But remember, it's not just about winning. It's about growing, understanding, and strategically navigating through the game. Care to share your strategies for navigating organizational dynamics? What's your next move?