Think about how you and your management teams make decisions. First, you need data, and that takes time. Then you need to analyze the data, and that takes time. Your personal analysis isn’t enough, though, because data collection applies to big, important issues (who has time for small ones?). So analyzing the data requires the input and buy-in of others. Hence, you conduct meetings, and that takes time. Finally, we have to connect our decisions to some sort of action (initiative, project, technology, and so forth) or they have no effect — and that takes time. This cycle (data up to people in meetings to implement decisions back down to the workplace) developed in the Industrial Revolution and matured in the first half of the 20th century. How is it working for you in the complex world of 21st century healthcare?
Would it be valuable if your organization’s decisions were more timely, rapid, and effective? If your answer is, “Yes,” then ask the next question, “Will what got us here get us there?” In Dr. Kenagy’s research, every company who excelled when others failed decided what got them to where they were wouldn’t get them to where they wanted to be. They decided to innovate.
In his research, Dr. Kenagy has found that the few companies who succeeded transitioned from the old, industrial, data up-meetings-implement cycle to rapid cycles of effective, coordinated decision making close to the information. Instead of moving information up, management moved decision-making down.
Management Innovation uses the principles at the heart of Adaptive Design. It provides staff with unique methods, skills, and tools to link information to action to results in real time — as close to the work as possible. It empowers staff to identify and systematically solve small problems as they happen, instead of aggregating them into big ones.
Management Innovation is based on one essential truth: Solve the small problems close to you and the big problems go away. Of course, you need more than great methods, skills, and tools; you must change people’s minds. In Adaptive Design, that’s a lot easier than most people think. You start by understanding more about how human brains work.
