UNDERSTANDING THE WORKFLOW

Need an intro paragraph or sentence here about workflow providing the conclusion.

Review your team’s value to your organization.  Once you identify the what that value is or why your team exists at the company, then map the work as it flows through your team. This is called the workflow or the value stream.

As you map this work moving through your team you should notice that each player adds additional value to the work.  This is called the value stream. Every player on the team directly or indirectly adds value to the work.  Ultimately, it is this value that is being added to the work is why your team exists and why each player on your team exits.

For accounting teams the value they bring to an organization obvious. Activities from invoicing, posting cash, and collections to purchasing, paying vendors, to filing and scanning.  Several of these tasks provide a clear direct value add to the company.

Allowing the entire team to see the entire team workflow is very powerful.  The invoicing team might spend a few more seconds double checking and invoice if they know and invoice error could cause problem for their teammate in collections or attempting to pay a vendor.

Additionally, this process allows each player to see how and where they add value. Every player plays some important role on the team (even if its a supporting role), allowing them to see this value and how it fits into the bigger workflow and value stream provides each player with a sense of purpose.

People with purpose play harder. [research for this idea] Could quote Daniel pinks book.

Teams that don’t understand the workflow: 

  • Individual players typically lack purpose or don’t understand how their work fits in the entire team goal
  • Break down of collaboration among team members working on sequential steps in a process
  • Little or no coordination amongst players
  • Little or no motivation for the complete the task well
  • Players feel their individual contributions and role are not important
  • Weak or little synergy