Two Models of Work [08/13/2008 14:01:16]
A little while ago, I drew a diagram to clarify how my long term goals connected to my next actions. I expected to use a "drill down" format that looked like this:
But when I got to the bottom layer, I realized I generally had two next actions for each role:
- a process improvement action
- a value creation action
For example, one of my goals is to get in shape. The next process improvement action might be to reinstall CalorieKing on my Palm Pilot.
But installing software doesn't actually get me any closer to being in shape. That would be a value creation next action. Like, say, lifting weights. Or eating a healthy lunch.
Turns out that most of my roles and goals are really ongoing processes with no real endpoint:
- get in shape
- learn to delegate
- grow my company
- improve my cashflow
- streamline support
- improve my social life
- learn spanish
- build a better blog
- improve my poker skills
- etc.
I do have several standalone projects with clear next actions - especially within my company. Those are things I want to track, but most of them are part of a larger vision. For example, setting up roundup was part of the support role.
In fact, the only truly standalone project I have right now, at least in the GTD sense, is getting the emission test done on my car so I can renew my license plate. (There's something wrong with the car's computer and they couldn't just do the test.)
I wound up with two types of diagram, one for simple projects like the emmissions test, and one for ongoing improvements:
The more complicated diagram reminded me of the book Lean Thinking, because it talks about how each process should flow on demand as the customer pulls value from it, but that there's also always room for an improvement event. (The ideas in the book came from Toyota, and so they use the Japanese word kaizen to describe these improvement actions.)
Looking at this picture now, I'm wondering whether perhaps I should have called the left side knowledge work and the right side management.
I'm not sure what (if anything) to do about this yet, but for some reason this distinction seems important.