Processes govern the inner workings of a company. They describe how the work should be done. Those who have the say about processes, have the say about how the work is done. What do American processes look like?
Success Factor
If surveyed Americans most likely would not even mention processes as critical to a company’s success. Instead they would name factors such customer orientation, innovation, rapid reaction time, pricing, and financial engineering. More relevant than how the work is done is what the concrete results are.
Deductive vs. Inductive
Inductive thinking is also inference. It is a generalized conclusion based on particular instances. American processes and procedures are arrived at inductively, based on experience, which provides guidance on how to do the work.
Guaranty vs. Tool
For Americans processes are tools, a means to an end. Processes assist, support, enable people to organize their work and their interaction. Processes cannot, and should not, replace human judgement.
Discipline vs. Deviation
Americans seek that fine line between process discipline and flexibility. The moment a process step makes unnecessary﹣no added value﹣demands, Americans will consider deviation. Judgement calls are made via internal communication within the team and with next level management.
Process as Power
Because Americans are less inclined to view processes and procedures as making up the manual governing the inner workings of a company, the writing of those rules is rarely the forum where battles over power and influence take place.
Americans believe that all activities should be oriented on the conditions of the market and on the needs of customers. In the U.S. business context those driven by power and influence strive to have the say about access to and analysis of the market and customers.
