Business advice is plentiful – what’s rare is process

Process enables solutions to be implemented, measured and valued so that they endure rather than be just a short-term fix.

We believe that for a process to be effective it needs to pass the 5M test: its ability to measure, monitor, manage, motivate and monetise the underlying activity.

Processes should motivate

Every process within a SME should enable performance to be measured, monitored and managed.  Less obvious, perhaps, is that the process should aim to motivate the people responsible for its implementation.

A key factor is for data to be captured in
 a seamless and fun way rather than stifle the SME with bureaucracy. This can be achieved by inserting the right technology into the processes.

In addition, the process must provide value for those involved in the underlying activity.  It should be used to help them better understand what is expected of them and to enable their contribution to the business to be objectively valued.

Effective processes enhance the speed with which a business can identify an issue, understand how to best solve it and allocate the required capital to finance the solution.

They also help to build a more transparent and accountable business where everyone knows what is expected of them and the roles played by other people in the organisation.