What is “Operations”

What we are referring to here are the ‘Operational Systems’ in a business, which detail how each area of the business is carried out.  In order for a business to run optimally, it must figure out the best ways to run each individual area of that business, (and how they should overlap)  and then document those practices as a set of procedures to be followed.  The object of the exercise is to run the business as effectively as possible, so that the needs of all of the stakeholders are met, from clients to workers to investors.  Systems run businesses and people run the systems.  Systemising a business means getting away from a dependency on a particular employee (or employees) in the workplace.  Are the processes that you use on a daily basis mapped so that at any stage someone can understand what needs to be done?

What typical Operation issues arise in the business?

• Do I have a back up system in operation?
• Are all my contacts on a data base and do I contact them on a regular basis?
• If an employee goes sick can someone easily do their job?
• Is there a manual for how you do your business?
• Does what we sell get delivered effectively?
• Do we know when the slack sales periods are?
• Can I readily find out where the sales coming from?

What areas would be typical documented operationally in a business?

The following is a list of documents or guidelines which should form part of the operations system.  

• Procedure manual
• What needs  to be followed up and when
• Sales Training Procedures
• Marketing guidelines
• Key performance Tracking systems
• Back up Procedures
• Disaster recovery