Just because you move it online doesn't make it more efficient!

My generation learned to compute on Apple IIc's. We wrote tiny programs using Basic computer language. It was so cool to write a line or two of code and then watch on the screen as a line was drawn. At that time, I'm sure Al Gore had already invented the internet.....it's just that we did not know much about it yet. We watched as dial-up slowly rolled out where we lived. I still hear that noise in my head that modems make when they connect.........for us, we'd finally connect and check a few e-mails and then you'd hear that dreaded noise again and know immediately that you have been booted and are having to reconnect.

Over time we have collectively watched as the internet has grown into a huge information monster. Most of our jobs would slowly grind to a halt in the absence of internet access. The question I have repeatedly asked of myself is, "Does moving your information into an electronic format make you or your company more efficient?" Is the act of 'moving the information' the thing that generates efficiency?

I contend, that yes having information in an electronic (or maybe even an online format) is a part of the puzzle but many times we simply drag already 'burdened & lame' processes into the electronic world and wonder why we did not see immediate efficiency jumps. We must also consider the process. I encourage business leaders to consider your processes. Before transferring any information into electronic formats be sure that the process itself is currently operating in an efficient manner.

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kl

2009