E Management

Perfection is IFR (Ideal Final Result) state. Some managers fall in love with word “PERFECTION”. For them, perfection should be everywhere in reports, paper-work, product, template, or systems. In current fast moving world, time is money. No doubt, quality is also money. Balancing both needs smart acts. We can’t keep polishing something at the cost of already irritated customer. We also can’t give raw product to let him polish. Speed with quality is ultimate goal. Some manager loose on quality front while other loose on time.

Let me think like a perfectionist. Quality has immense value. World has enough cumulative time, however, perfection is lacking. Many people are delivering mediocre products and services. It has resulted in poor brands. Branding needs perfection or differentiation. Brand built on strong foundations have long shelf life. It needs continuous value add or efforts to make it perfect. Buyers appreciate perfection and are ready to pay more for it.

It has negative side too. For example, I am working in a company which is working on system development. Each day implementation model is changing as management wants to build it on strong foundation. Other developments are on hold as perfect product will get delivered and employees will use brand new faster system. Timelines are changing and rounds of discussions are happening on exceptions. Few intellectuals are discussing in meeting rooms on perfection ground while others are waiting to get it implemented. No-action is making life miserable to many.

Even in my personal life, I want to buy one sofa which needs large space. For that, I bought new home and now have waiting for its possession/movement. After that only, sofa will come. We all go in this mode at some point in life.

Let me think like a delivery orientation. Nothing is perfect in this world. If someone has to grow higher, it needs volume. Deliver more reports which management could not understand or open more restaurants or build more residential units as demand is there. Top management loves delivery on time. Delay has penalties like opportunities cost/ interest cost. Management also reward people who deliver on numbers or goals. They don’t have time to go on site and see the real delivery. We all want success and timely delivery makes life easy.

It has negative side too. Sometimes, it leaves customer unhappy. He may buy as he has no other option available. In long run, it creates poor managers at top position who are not properly trained.