The Evolution of Operations: Designed or Evolved?

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself:  

Is the way my business operates the result of careful planning - or just a series of happy (or not-so-happy) accidents?

A little evolution isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, we humans are the product of millions of years of adaptation. And for the most part, we get by pretty well - though not without our share of quirks and flaws.

Take our bodies, for example.  

We’ve got lower backs that protest after a long day, knees that creak with every step, and feet that are a marvel of engineering - maybe a little too complicated for their own good. Our sinuses drain upwards (why?), and we share a single tube for both eating and breathing (which is why we can choke so easily!). We need a constant supply of vitamin C, and we’re stuck with just one set of adult teeth - no do-overs here.

But wait, there’s more!  

We’ve also got a literal blind spot in each eye, thanks to the way our optic nerves are positioned. Our brains just fill in the blanks, guessing what should be there. It’s a clever workaround, but not exactly perfect.

And let’s not forget the behavioral quirks - impulse control, anyone? Or the occasional irrational fear? Evolution has left us with plenty of oddities.

And for every successful evolutionary line, there are 1000’s that went extinct. 

What does this have to do with your business?  

Well, just like our bodies, business operations often evolve over time rather than being intentionally designed. Processes get added, tweaked, or patched and re-patched as needs arise. Sometimes, that works out just fine. But more often than not, it leads to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and blind spots - areas where things just aren’t working as well as they could.

The Danger of Unchecked Evolution  

While evolution has produced some remarkable results, it’s also left us with plenty of room for improvement, and a large number of animals that just didn’t make it. 

The same goes for your business. Letting your operations evolve without direction can lead to unnecessary complexity, wasted time, and missed opportunities.

So, what’s the alternative?  

It’s time to put some real thought and design into your operations. Imagine if your processes were as smooth and efficient as a well-designed machine, rather than a collection of jury-rigged solutions. You’d save time, reduce stress, and set your business up for sustainable growth.

Ready to take a fresh look at your operations?  

Let’s design a system that works for you, not against you. After all, evolution got us this far - but with a little intention, we can go even further.