Right Thinking & Right Systems
Right thinking refers to the way we perceive our world, the challenges we face, and the roles and responsibilities of ourselves and others. It includes how we react to opportunities, problems, and setbacks. Our thinking influences how we approach uncertainty and respond to failure. Right thinking positions us to address current challenges with clarity and purpose.
Adopting Systems Thinking for Improvement
Right thinking also includes systems thinking – a framework that takes into account the interconnected character of systems and their parts. It is also a way of thinking that uses short feedback loops to assess performance and make adjustments as soon as possible to improve system performance. Right thinking also includes structured problem-solving, positioning your organization to move away from gut feel and guesswork to fact-driven, validated learning and effective change for the better.
Systems Standardization for Consistent Performance
The right systems set people up for success so they can do good work without guessing or making assumptions about what should be done and how it should be accomplished. A system is a process in which people and/or machines perform work using information, technology, and other resources to produce products and services for internal or external customers. Typical businesses utilize work systems to engineer new products, acquire materials, produce and deliver products and services, manage data and finances, create reports, and manage the workforce. Often, these systems are not standardized, vary across the organization, and rely on tacit tribal knowledge. This creates a high variability of outcomes – especially in quality, time, and delivery – and creates unplanned and unpaid rework.
Synergy of Right Systems and Thinking
These two disciplines complement each other: right systems drive capable, stable, standardized self-improving systems, which in turn reinforce right thinking.