In today’s fast-paced world, where technology evolves at the speed of light and innovation is the name of the game, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. Whether you’re a micro or a multinational company, you may be wondering how technology and digitalisation contributes to both the top and bottom line of your company. That’s where the Progressive Plan-Do-Check-Act (P-D-C-A) learning cycles come into play. These cycles aren’t just for learning; they’re a roadmap for leveraging the digitalisation benefits and achieving sustainable profitable growth.
1st Level – Product: From Idea to Development
P: Product Idea
It all begins with a spark—an innovative product idea. You’re scrolling through your social media feed, and you think, “Why doesn’t this exist yet?” Congratulations, you’ve got a product idea!
D: Minimum Viable Product
Next, you’ll want to turn that idea into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Think of it as a prototype. It’s not perfect, but it’s a starting point. Build it, test it, and iterate based on feedback.
C: Potential and Profitability
Is your MVP solving a real problem? Is there a market for it? Can it be profitable? Here, you’ll evaluate the potential and profitability of your product.
A: Product Development
Once you’ve validated your idea and its potential, you can dive into full-scale product and process development. This is where you bring your vision to life.
2nd Level – Process: Streamlining Efficiency
P: Value Stream Design
Now that you have a product, it’s time to optimize the processes around it. How can you make everything more efficient and reduce waste?
D: Process Development
Develop and refine your processes to ensure they’re smooth and effective. Eliminate bottlenecks and streamline workflows.
C: Stability, Capability, and Flow
Your processes need to be stable and capable of delivering consistent results. If they’re not, you’ll need to revisit and refine them until they are.
A: Control Plan and Instructions
Create a control plan and detailed instructions for your processes to maintain consistency and quality.
3rd Level – People: Building the Dream Team
P: People Strategy and Plan
With the product and process in place with a core team, it is not time to identify the skills and talents your larger team needs to succeed. Develop a strategy for acquiring and retaining top talent.
D: Recruitment and Training
Recruit the right people and invest in their training and development. A knowledgeable and skilled team is your greatest asset.
C: Learning Curve
Measure your team’s learning curve. Are they becoming more proficient and efficient over time?
A: Competency Matrix
Create a competency matrix to track your team’s skills and expertise. Use this to guide further training and development.
4th Level – Performance: Navigating the Organization
P: Organization Structure & Roles
Design your organization’s structure and define roles and responsibilities, as the team size increases, typically beyond 20. Clarity is key to efficient operation.
D: Delegate Work and Tasks
Delegate tasks and responsibilities to the appropriate team members. Trust your team to excel in their roles.
C: Progress Reporting
Regularly monitor and report on progress. Are you meeting your goals and KPIs?
A: Review and Steer
Review performance data and adjust your strategy as needed. Steer the organization towards greater success.
5th Level – Productivity: Achieving More with Less
P: Challenging Goals
Set challenging but achievable goals for yourself and your team. Push the boundaries of what’s possible once the organisation is built and normally becomes sluggish due to the size.
D: Continual Improvement
Constantly seek opportunities for improvement. Encourage innovation and creativity.
C: Automation Opportunities
Identify tasks that can be automated to increase productivity. Embrace technology to streamline processes.
A: Control Algorithms
Implement control algorithms to maintain and optimize automated processes. Ensure the wastages in the workflows are the least.
6th Level – Programming: Navigating the Digital World
P: Hardware and Software
Understand the hardware and software tools at your disposal for getting the best out of the algorithms developed. Choose the right ones for your needs.
D: Actuation and Execution
Execute your digital plans and strategies. Put your knowledge into action.
C: Sensing and Monitoring
Continuously monitor your digital processes. Are they operating as expected?
A: Machine Learning
Use machine learning to gain insights and make predictions. Leverage data to make informed decisions.
7th Level – Progression: The Path to the Future
P: Digital Process/System Twin
Create a digital twin of your processes or systems, based on the machine learning from the performance data, preferably in real time. This digital model can help you simulate and optimize future scenarios.
D: Predictive Recommendations
Leverage your digital twin to make predictive recommendations. Anticipate challenges and opportunities.
C: Timing and Accuracy
Timing is crucial. Ensure your predictions and recommendations are accurate and actionable.
A: Optimize and Expand
Finally, optimize your processes based on your predictions and expand your reach. Embrace the future with confidence.
Technology can be used to make life easier in each of these steps. However, the benefits can only be leveraged if the lower-level cycles are stable and capable. Remember, each step in these P-D-C-A learning cycles is essential. If a cycle isn’t stable and capable, don’t rush to the next one. Take the time to build a solid foundation. Your journey to success is a continuous loop of growth and improvement. Embrace it, and you’ll thrive in this ever-evolving world, for sustainable profitable growth.
