Working with the unknown unknowns of the complex domain (as in most situations involving people) brings even more challenges to the concept of ‘efficient’ alongside ‘effective’.
"If we look at efficiency first, that’s about constraining people within a system. If we value belonging first, that’s about valuing people and seeing what will emerge from that. I can’t think of a better way to set out organising humanely, effectively – and in the end efficiently."
The difference between Efficiency and Effectiveness is a fundamental step stone for me when we talk about creating something (a new product, a change in an existing system).
For me is “Effectiveness OVER Efficiency” which means - referring to the Manifesto - that for sure Efficiency has value but Effectiveness has more value.
The example of the ladder is great. I could be super efficient… going in the wrong direction.
Value Effectiveness over Efficiency means that we should reconsider what “waste” is, especially in the big organization. Failure is seen as a type of waste (waste of time which is a waste of money) but if we learn something in the process… is it really a waste? For me it’s worst to continue doing the same old thing without any learning.
I think that big companies should stop maximize for the “return on investment” and should maximize instead for the “return of labor”. Allow people to be creative. To find their solutions to the wicked problems we are facing. And have fun doing this.
Nothing new under the sun, there is this 30 years old interview between Docs Ackoff and Deming which is talking about such topics (among many others).
Thanks Eleonora. I like your 'effectiveness over efficiency' formulation a la Agile Manifesto very much. And (as I say) there is still value in efficiency, particualarly if we rethink it and work in the brief spirit.
Thank you for this clarifying text🙏. in Swedish the word efficiently is not used, but both words are translated to the same Swedish: effektiv. We can therefore have a very different understanding and idea of the meaning when we talk about it. It becomes all the more important to talk about it in order to understand each other.😊
Thanks for this insightful piece Mark!
I love this :
"If we look at efficiency first, that’s about constraining people within a system. If we value belonging first, that’s about valuing people and seeing what will emerge from that. I can’t think of a better way to set out organising humanely, effectively – and in the end efficiently."
The difference between Efficiency and Effectiveness is a fundamental step stone for me when we talk about creating something (a new product, a change in an existing system).
For me is “Effectiveness OVER Efficiency” which means - referring to the Manifesto - that for sure Efficiency has value but Effectiveness has more value.
The example of the ladder is great. I could be super efficient… going in the wrong direction.
Value Effectiveness over Efficiency means that we should reconsider what “waste” is, especially in the big organization. Failure is seen as a type of waste (waste of time which is a waste of money) but if we learn something in the process… is it really a waste? For me it’s worst to continue doing the same old thing without any learning.
I think that big companies should stop maximize for the “return on investment” and should maximize instead for the “return of labor”. Allow people to be creative. To find their solutions to the wicked problems we are facing. And have fun doing this.
Nothing new under the sun, there is this 30 years old interview between Docs Ackoff and Deming which is talking about such topics (among many others).
https://ackoffcenter.blogs.com/ackoff_center_weblog/2011/04/a-converstaion-between-russell-ackoff-and-edward-deming.html
Thanks Eleonora. I like your 'effectiveness over efficiency' formulation a la Agile Manifesto very much. And (as I say) there is still value in efficiency, particualarly if we rethink it and work in the brief spirit.
Thank you for this clarifying text🙏. in Swedish the word efficiently is not used, but both words are translated to the same Swedish: effektiv. We can therefore have a very different understanding and idea of the meaning when we talk about it. It becomes all the more important to talk about it in order to understand each other.😊