Doa and the Art of Strategic Operations

Imagine a river running down a mountain. It will always find the easiest and quickest way downhill. Two of the fundamental forces of nature (gravity and friction) are at play. The water tumbles over rocks, swirls around in eddies, sits stagnantly, and sometimes even evaporates into thin air.

By understanding the forces at work, the goals, and the obstacles—a good forest ranger can help direct the course of the river, shore up banks, remove blocks, and speed up the flow if needed. There may be constraints but with the balance of a birds-eye view and deep-dive into the rapids, a beautiful flow of energy can be fostered. One that accomplishes the desired goals and is in harmony with the landscape. 

Now as it relates to your business…

Your business is the forest. The operations of your business are the waterways. The river is the energy that flows through your business and transports resources in the form of supplies, money, information, people, products, and services. There may be several streams that converge or diverge. You may be sending a variety of vessels down the river and each vessel has different criteria for maintaining quality and thereby delivering value. It is crucial to understand both the forest and the qualities of the vessel in order to make a safe voyage. 

Metaphors for business ecology are not new. They began in the tech field where rapidly changing environments created the need for rapid adaptation and a different way of looking at business. But now, all businesses (not just tech) need to be able to pivot with the ever-faster changing times.

Ecosystem metaphors usually apply to the way various businesses interact with each other, but they can also apply to the ways the various parts of business interact with each other. Being able to see these relationships and develop systems accordingly can allow your business to reach its goals with more ease.

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Experiencing Harmony with Your Business Operations