Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Analysis Matters

Met with a shortage, the manager made a quick decision. The quick decision allowed her to check the box, but the quick decision did not result in meaningful, deep, and purposeful work. Instead, one might describe the result of the quick fix as shoddy, half hearted, passionless, and potentially even negative.

We all fall into the trap of the "quick fix" as one way to respond to matters at hand, matters for which we may not have the needed time, resources, staffing, or energy to resolve the matter in a more substantial way. Sometimes the quick fix does the trick and is looked at as a short-term solution for a problem that will get more and better attention later on. Yet sometimes the quick fix becomes the final solution, and when that happens it can be harmful as the deeper, better, and more positive work is never considered and doesn't happen.

This is why it's essential to have multiple parallel efforts happening at once. In one strand, you're doing the important work you've prioritized and prepared. In another strand you're evaluating work done with your team and figuring out ways to make it better, and a third stream may be your research stream--a time when you consult the research, experts, and new information out there with regard to areas of interest or need.

Making decisions deliberately with essential lead time, research, teamwork, and investment will result in good work. As much as possible, it's best to steer clear of the quick fix. Onward.