When it comes to increasing operational efficiency in a group or division of an organization, there could be many methods, methodologies adopted to do so. However, an attempt is made here to identify a few. It is important to note that these may already be running now. However, some are collated here.

Prelude

In the tasks we carry out, if we pay close attention, there will always be room for improvement. For example, in a project, do we ever think about improving efficiency? Have we examined productivity improvement methodologies, the consistent form of operational methods that support and improve project execution and produce very high quality results? And also, in a broader perspective, motivation to retain good talents. Here are some …

Common Database Help Guide

A common database tool that has the ability to connect to any database (with the proper drivers, of course). This tool would be useful to know and understand the data model well and a help guide. What the Help Guide means here is the ability to view table / field details only based on input text that is queried across all fields (text search) and displayed on those tables and field names. Field names can also be hyperlinked, so you could have a foreign key relationship with other tables. For example, let’s say, I have a field called, pmt_ben_name at a table called t_fwt_pmt with a description field that has details like “Name of payee of payment”. If the user does not know the name of the field for Beneficiary, if the user searches with the text ‘beneficiary’, then, it would show the name of the table, the name of the field (with hyperlink) in tabular format. For an experienced developer on a project, they might know you. However, for the new members, the juniors in the project, this type of tool would be useful to learn the system / application well and in less time.

Support operation application

Resource management is always a challenge. Having a central place that captures and reports the details of the resources that segregate groups / teams, is really a one-click place. This central application can also include travel plans (completed, current, proposed), infrastructure information with needs based on project requirement, youth resource requirements, recruitment data, maintenance and staff utilization data tracking. This can be further improved based on specific requirements. It is important to note that not everyone gets access to all of these internal operations. However, it can be achieved by having the proper rights and privileges. Thus, you reduce the large amount of manual work with spreadsheets each time and the delays in data consolidation and reporting.

Central file installation

Remember, we create files after files in a project and save them to our local drive or share them over the network (temporary files). This is in addition to our software configuration management (using VSS, Harvest, etc.). Once the project is deployed in production and runs successfully for 6-12 months, I am not sure if they are deleted or archived, otherwise it may consume more space on the local system or on the shared system on the network. To minimize the use of disk space by unused files, we can have an archive installation that runs centrally. That can work like scanning unused files for say for more than 6 or 12 months and can be deleted / archived based on relevance. In this way, the cost of infrastructure can also be managed well.

Intranet for each group / division

A place for full project details, the staff currently working on those projects, the teams, a brief profile of each of the staff members, the team structure spiraling towards the helm. This portal or website (whatever the name) can be developed with rudimentary technologies or with the latest cutting-edge technologies. The advantage of developing such an application is twofold: one, a system with the required information is readily available, and secondly, the talent pool is developed as juniors, the staff who are used relatively less in the project can contribute. to this development, therefore, which makes the talent pool very effective. This group can be further leveraged in other projects where there are requirements for such skills. This can also be seen as the retention of talents who aspire to work on the latest technologies and developments 🙂

Forums

This is another important channel through which operational efficiency can be improved. The forums can be classified broadly (not restricted), in Technology, Administration and Domain (Business), in fact, Softskill as well. To run these forums, you must first do home work. This means that aspiring individuals need to be identified, simple goals set for them, and tracked to achieve the goals, sharing progress with others. Softskill is one of the most essential skills that every individual should have. Levels may vary based on relevance.

Awards and honors

Yes, there could be many of those honors and awards given to associates. The time frame for such a global ceremony may vary. However, if we do it quarterly specific to group or domain, that would really motivate staff well. The accepted truth is that each individual requires recognition / recognition. If we provide that path for engineers, it would be a real launching pad for increased productivity. And if this happens, in a Town Hall meeting, a kind of great meeting, the motivation and happiness for them would be immense.

Center R

Dedicated R&D center to create new innovations in terms of new software, products (you could specialize in the organization’s line of business or, something beyond that too), utilities / tools that are useful for managing and running some of operations. The catalyst for this could be the use of open source tools. As there is a large amount of open source software for almost all requirements, they can also be used for our research purpose. This could lead to new products, revolutionary new technical reports in the industry as well.

Efficiency continues …