The right information is key to avoid firefighting in your business

Jon Wilson, formerly managing director for York-based manufacturer Sheppee International, has become a director at Armstrong Watson.

With a long career in industry, Mr Wilson comes to the business with an industry-focused perspective.

Many organisations lack access to the right information to decide on the direction of their business.

Being managerially proactive is better than being reactive: invest some time in looking at your practices and reap the rewards.

Information should be of value for the user and not overly complicated in its production, but it is key to removing daily firefighting and freeing up some of your valuable time to look at the higher overview of the business.

But what information do you need?

The sales pipeline. Projected sales don’t always come to fruition. Keep your pipeline ordered and clear.

People within the business. Personalities, strengths and how long it takes people to do certain tasks. Factor this in and work around it.

Supply. How long will it take to get what you need, are there or might there be any mitigating factors?

Training. Will training cut down time spent on tasks? WIll it improve your workforce, advance them and their careers, as well as making them feel valued?

Quality control. Check lists and knowing what to look out for in products and the work of your employees is key to saving time.

These are just a few of the many things a business owner or manager needs to look at: the key issue on this one isn’t just producing information, it’s producing the right information.

Focusing on the wrong information can be time absorbing, and it might highlight issues in wrong area.

Deal with one issue at a time, but deal with it effectively and you will have more time to focus on other issues that are more pressing or that will advance your business.

Rules of engagement:
1. Know what your objectives are
2. Find out what you need to know
3. Analyse your business practices, drill down into them and find the problems, if there are any
4. Anticipate issues – anticipate rather than be reactive
5. Continually improve practices – once it’s done, you won’t have to do it again

Differing sizes of organisations will face different issues. Naturally as organisations grow they become more complex and problems can cascade through the business taking time and resource away from more productive work.

You can never achieve perfect in business, but you can always strive for it.