Homework
1. Read Chapter 2 in Shift Ahead: How the Best Companies Stay Relevant in a Fast-Changing World.
2. Read What is Innovation: Why Almost Everyone Defines It Wrong.
Think about how to increase efficiency in any of an organization's fundamental areas, and consider what could be done to improve the process. You may use your own company as an example. Identify a fundamental area in your organization in which there is an inefficiency. You may use the same one as you described in the discussion forum or chose another example area from the Business Drivers or Business Operations examples below:
1. Business Drivers
• Capital Management
• Customer Strategy (Marketing)
• Customer Relationships
• Employee Development
• Employee Satisfaction
• Quality, Process Improvement, Change Management
• Financial Analysis and Reporting
2. Business Operations
• Logistics Management
• Customer Acquisition (Sales)
• Produce or Service Delivery
• Product Development
• Supply Chain Management
• Accounting Management
• Technology Management
Example possibilities for alternative approaches might include the following:
1. Combining reports
• Would one report be better than two or three? Why?
2. Mobile apps
• Are there possible efficiencies here? How?
3. Desktop notifications
• Is it important to get immediate feedback? Why?
4. Team environment or collaboration tools
• Could this eliminate wasted time or lost documents? How?
5. Automate manual processes
• Examples include opening mail, sorting, or delivery. Could these be automated? How?
Consider the possible ways to streamline things in areas by asking "why" a particular process is done that way. Think in terms of what makes the work easier for employees to accomplish. Don't think about what technology is available, or what products are used, or what they cost. Think only about what would make the job, or the task, or the process easier or more efficient. The point here is to be innovative. Let your creativity go wild and avoid getting locked into a path or solution before exploring ideas and possibilities.
Remember, your goal is to increase efficiency in the area of your choice. Ask yourself "What if we could . . . [your idea]?"
Your homework is to explain an approach different from the one you explained in the discussion forum. Outline the problem or inefficiency with details about how the process is impacting the organization's effectiveness. Use graphical aids where possible to demonstrate the issue(s) and the possibilities for improvements.
In your paper,
1. Describe the context of the problem or inefficiency you've identified.
• Provide enough details for your reader to understand why what is happening is currently inefficient or ineffective.
2. Explain the current process providing appropriate supporting details.
3. Explain the processes of the new approach that would be more efficient for getting the task, job, or work done in your organization.
4. Provide a detailed evaluation describing how the accuracy and/or the efficiency would be improved by the alternative approach or process.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.