There is the camp (i.e., Jim Collins) that believes that if you have “the right people on the bus” you will have a much better chance of accomplishing your goals. Then there is the camp (i.e., Michael Gerber) that believes it’s mainly about systems and process. Both sides agree the two are not mutually exclusive, but both argue that more is to be gained from focusing your efforts on their respective camp.
This week I heard another take from a fellow process consultant which was, “If you don’t have the right people, you have to have the right process.” People are your greatest asset, however, you will not always have great people. Sometimes you will – some of you will be lucky enough to keep great people for years. But circumstances change and people leave for various reasons. A responsible business owner cannot afford to allow an employee to take part of their business with them. Having good processes, documented and consistently updated, allows you the insurance that when someone leaves, your company hasn’t lost valuable institutional knowledge.