Lesson 1: Managing Complexities to Drive Productivity Up Flashcards
____________ are not merely common occurrences in the dynamic world of business; they are important components that form the terrain in which business operates. These __________ stem from a plethora of interconnected causes, both internal and external, posing problems that necessitate effective leadership and strategic forethought. To prosper in today’s competitive world, firms must traverse a maze of hurdles, ranging from technological changes to global economic swings.
Complexities
is engrained in a variety of disciplines, methods, and solutions. Whether referred to in the context of a process, product, or persons, one thing is constant: complexity is here to stay.
Complexity
is derived from the Latin word __________, which means “twisted together” or “entwined,” complexity, simply put, is a subjective factor that usually refers to the difficulty of a design or build of a system.
Complexity; “Complexus”
is the array of multifaceted challenges that an organization encounters within its operations. It emerges from a variety of sources: intertwined internal processes, the fluctuating nature of market dynamics, rapid technological progress, and the detailed demands of project management.
Business Complexity
is the web of factors that complicate straightforward decision-making and management, potentially undermining a company’s sustainability and growth.
Business Complexity
Types of Complexity in Business
Organizational, Operational, Technological, Project (OOTP)
The everyday procedures and processes that drive a business can become tangled, particularly in companies with extensive product or service lines.
Operational Complexity
As companies grow, so does the intricacy of their structures, including the hierarchy, networks, and communication channels.
Organizational Complexity
Types of Operational Complexity
Human Resource, Regulatory and Legal, Strategic, Environmental and Social (HRSE)
Managing human capital involves complexities such as recruitment, talent development, performance management, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Human Resource Complexity
Compliance with a myriad of laws, regulations, and industry standards presents significant challenges for businesses. This includes regulations related to labor, environmental protection, consumer protection, data privacy, and industry-specific regulations.
Regulatory and Legal
involve developing and executing long-term plans to achieve organizational goals. This includes market analysis, competitive positioning, product development, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
Strategic Complexity
Increasingly, businesses are facing pressures to address environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical business practices.
Environmental and Social Complexity
The swift advancement of technology significantly adds to business complexity, as integrating new systems alongside existing ones can be daunting.
Technological Complexity
In sectors like construction, IT, and R&D, projects can become remarkably complex due to various factors such as scope, timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations.
Project Complexity
Types of Project Complexity
Structural, Technical, Temporal, Directional (STTD)
This type of complexity refers to difficulty in managing interconnected activities. Examples of projects with high structural complexity include engineering, construction, and defense projects.
Structural Complexity
This type of project complexity refers to challenges in project design and technical details. The complexity is associated with new projects about which sufficient technical details are not available.
Technical Complexity
refers to projects with an uncertain environment. The uncertain factors include unexpected legislative changes, environmental impacts, and the like.
Temporal Complexity
This type of complexity refers to challenges in determining project goals and objectives. The goals are generally shared with hidden agendas and vague project requirements.
Directional Complexity
Factors Contributing to Complexities in Management
- High Degree of Uncertainty and Rapid Change,
- Use of Technology,
- Diversity to Workplace,
- Globalization,
- Project Size and Scope,
- Goals and Objectives,
- Number of Stakeholders,
- Management Practices
- Ambiguity
- Division of Labor
(HUDGPGNMAD)
Employees in today’s businesses come from a wider range of generations, cultures, and skill levels than in the past. While it can be considered generally as strength, it can also be a hindrance to productivity, as it can result in various conflicts and tension such as cultural integration challenges, stereotyping, prejudice, bias, discrimination, and communication barriers.
Diversity to Workplace
Given the numerous benefits of advanced technology in the workplace, it can also negatively affect productivity. With new technologies emerging on a regular basis, managers need to become proficient on how to utilize them in order to successfully manage the business. It demands constant learning and adjustment, which can be time and resource-consuming. It can negatively impact employees productivity in several ways such as dependency on technology, technical issues, distraction, and information overload.
Use of Technology
Keeping a workforce under constant change can be challenging since it can make employees discouraged by the lack of stability, their attention may be diverted away from their tasks, resulting in decreased productivity and quality of work.
High Degree of Uncertainty
are necessary for this, as they are flexible and capable of reacting to newly discovered information. “Flexible and iterative strategies” used by the organizations to navigate complex and uncertain environments.
Adaptive Management Approach