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Progress

Diagrams | Matrices | Thinkers

Make meaningful progress by broadening horizons, deepening insights and strengthening connections.

first principles of flow

Start with a clear picture of success then identify quantifiable outcomes that prove achievement. Then walk back the critical path to make that dream a reality. If you can see it, you can buidl it.

  • Predictions: What will the world be like in three years?
  • Problem: What is the biggest problem you can do something about?
  • Perspective: What are different ways of looking at the problem?
  • Product: What is job to be done? Map Reality, Model Desires
  • Performance: What outcomes qualify and quantify success?
  • Potential: Demand Size and Market Size?
  • Persuasion: How to win over contributors?
  • Platform: Property and Technology
  • Process: Recipe for Success
  • People: Shared values and complimentary talents
  • Purpose: Alignment of Culture and Teamwork
  • Priorities: What immediate actions?
  • Profits: Enough money?
  • Value: Real measure of success?

Picture Success​

What is the meaning of success?

Fulfilment is comfort in the gap between potential and reality. You need Platform and Process, but People make the difference.

Mantra

The best way to find meaning is to focus on helping someone else

Chart a Path​

Start with a clear picture of desired outcomes and work backwards to picture overcoming obstacles on the critical path to success.

The Heroes Journey
  1. Define Success: Clarify your expectations using an Outcome Map. This helps align the team and stakeholders on the goal and contributing factors.
  2. Visualize the value stream: Create Value Stream Maps to visualize and measure the current, ideal, and target state workflows. This helps identify constraints and prioritize opportunities.
  3. Map dependencies: Use a Dependency Map to identify external factors affecting the team's performance and target dependencies to break or mitigate.
  4. Assess team capabilities: Create a Capability Map to understand internal factors affecting performance and identify areas for skill development or resource allocation.
  5. Prioritize improvements: Use the insights from all maps to create a prioritized list of initiatives, considering factors like impact and effort.
  6. Involve key stakeholders: Include representatives from all parts of the value stream in the mapping process to ensure diverse perspectives.
  7. Use collaborative tools: Leverage shared visual board tools for real-time collaboration during mapping sessions.
  8. Iterate regularly: Repeat the mapping process every 3-6 months to reassess progress and set new targets.
  9. Focus on qualitative measurement: Remember that qualitative measurement is often more valuable than purely quantitative metrics.
  10. Consider external facilitation: A skilled, outside facilitator can bring unbiased perspective and efficiency to the mapping process.
  11. Start with estimates: When beginning, relative measurements and team estimates are often sufficient to identify major bottlenecks and opportunities.
  12. Communicate visually: Use maps and visual representations to share understanding across different levels and departments in the organization.
  13. Connect improvements to outcomes: Ensure that all improvement efforts are clearly linked to the desired outcome defined in the Outcome Map.

Improve Maps​

Make the journey easier for others to follow.