In the dim and distant past I used to think of myself as a programmer, just someone who created software as a solution to a challenge in business. Today I know that being “just” one thing has never been good enough, not for me and not for my customers. I realize that I must be an integrator and an auditor of manufacturing, management, and financial processes. Software can’t just be about automating processes. Automating a broken or valueless process will never add value to the business. No matter how efficient you become at measuring or processing waste, you will continue to lose ground to those who avoid being wasteful in the first place.
From programmer I moved to thinking of myself as a consultant on business process. But here again, the model is too limited. A consultant is good at identifying problems and suggesting solutions, but that is often where the relationship ends. A model of a better process is created, implementation may get started, but the consultant is detaching and moving on to conquer the next challenge.
As we move so rapidly into the future, I have finally arrived at the understanding that I need to be and can be more than a programmer, more than a consultant. The need is for a business process realignment “coach”. As a coach I have the privilege of helping you to define your problems and opportunities, and then we can work together to create and implement solutions. I need to become part of your team, help develop some plans of action, and stay right there with you while the game plays out and the players get comfortable in their roles on the team. My job is to help you reach the next level of performance and hold that trophy in your hands.
As a coach I can put to use my knowledge and experience in business operations, lean six sigma, manufacturing, logistics, ERP, programming, materials management, accounting, ISO 9000, and training. Together these skills will can be used to help you build processes that cut across the organization, breaking down silos to serve your customer faster, cheap, and better than they expect.