Models for Exceptional Business Systems!
Nature provides the perfect model for any business organization--systems working together in harmony to give its customers (you and I) the essentials for sustaining life. The solar system provides light and warmth. Weather systems and ecosystems supply ongoing food and water. Our bodies give us many years of service thanks to eleven continuously operating internal systems--digestive, nervous, circulatory, muscular, and so forth. Each of these systems is responsible for a very specific result, and each must perform consistently to maintain the health of the body.
Through history, man has adopted similar patterns to solve problems and meet challenges. In a typical city, for example, we find highway systems, water systems, sewage systems, energy systems, and lighting systems. We often forget about these incredible systems until one is down. Just after the devastation of the hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans, a headline on the cover of Time magazine said simply, "System Failure!"
Better Systems - Better Business
The great businesses of our time have all built their success around innovative and powerful systems:
- McDonald's Restaurants introduced a system of fast and convenient food. They've now built over 30,000 stores worldwide that systematically produce the same menu utilizing low-cost labor.
- Federal Express created a revolutionary system to deliver packages overnight by using a central hub.
- COSTCO sells merchandise at cost (plus 11% administration) and makes their profit on a system of membership fees.
- Walt Disney amusement parks have rides (fun systems) that move large numbers of people quickly and efficiently to prevent long waits. The parks are also immaculately clean. Disney has hundreds of systems that give customers a happy and memorable experience.
- Amazon.com is an Internet system that provides the most inexpensive, easy to evaluate, easy to buy, and complete selection of books found anywhere.
- Wal-Mart has built an unmatched logistics system that efficiently moves vast quantities of merchandise to and from regional warehouses all over the world.
These businesses, and thousands of others, have built their fortunes on one or more remarkable systems that serve customers better than anyone else in their target market.
Your New Business Model
Once you put on your System Thinker's hat, and look deep inside of yourself and your organization, you will discover something special you can do to differentiate your business from all others. You will discover something you can do to amaze and delight customers. You will discover your true business purpose. Then go systemize it. Go create a new model. Go make the world a better place!
Wishing You Prosperous Times,
Ron
P.S - Every business activity is a system. You can learn how to make them shine. When you do, you become the best deal for your target customer. Check out my eCourse, Box TheoryTM: Double Your Profit with High-Performance Systems and Processes.