To Process or not to Process

A long time ago, there was a land lord who started the tradition of throwing a huge party for all of his town folk in his huge backyard once a year. Right before the party began, the land lord would get his men to catch his pet Cat and put her under a wicker basket and then put a brick on top of the basket. Right after this event, the party would begin.

The landlord passed away and his eldest son took over the family house and the traditions. The eldest son did not have a pet cat. But every year at the time of the party he would instruct his men to get a cat. He would then put the cat under the wicker basket and then put a brick on top of the basket.

This tradition was as important to this landlord’s family as having a real turkey or a fake tofurkey on Thanksgiving to most of us Americans. Nobody had any issues with this process, so they went on carrying out their practices.

Now, let’s try and understand about why the landlord originally used to lock his cat right before the party began?

1. The landlord really loved his pet and did not like to restrict her freedom. 
2.  The landlord liked to devote his time to entertaining his guests at the party.
3.  The landlord was afraid of his cat hurting other kids or even worse someone stomping his cat by mistake.

So, in order to take care of all the three issues, the land lord used to lock his cat up for her own safety and convenience of the guests. He used a wicker basket because he had them in abundance at his house. He used to use the red brick to weigh down the wicker basket restricting the cat to tip over it and run loose.

His son had observed his actions and followed the actions, but did not try to understand the purpose behind the actions.

What is a process?

Process is the practice of executing related tasks in a certain way to accomplish a goal.

1.       This practice could be executing tasks sequentially synchronized.

2.       This practice could be cataloging tasks in a certain way for easy identification.

3.       This practice could be to identify certain annoyances and take care of them.

4.       This practice could be to have gate keepers at certain locations.

5.       Etc.

Example of a process –

Waterfall  

Agile 

Scrum

  Etc.

Q. When to follow and not follow a process?

Many companies and projects like to implement the text book version of process without first understanding if the process will work or break with their core. And this is not necessarily the best way to implement anything.

1. Process for the sake of process does not add any value to the team and the company.
2.  Ever revised process will help the team to be efficient.
3.  Understanding of why to do certain tasks in certain way makes for a better process.

Process is good. Following a suitable process is as effective as epilating regularly (it is less painful with fewer surprises and leaves few chances for public embarrassment). Keep revising your processes and make sure it works for you.