What does 15 + 3 x 6 – 4 / 2 + 5 = ?
Do you do 15 + 3 or do you do 3 x 6 first? How about 6 – 4 or 4 / 2 before you minus it from the 6?
How about 15 + (3 x 6) – (4 / 2) + 5?
The order of operation gets you a completely different answer. With an incorrect order, the answer could still be close, or it could be miles off. But, if you want to be accurate the order is important.
BEDMAS
In maths, the way to figure out how to get the order right is to use BEDMAS.
Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
A simple system that helps remove the complexity and gives the equations some order and consistency.
How does a mathematical system help you get better performance out of your team?
Order Matters
Kaizen is a Japanese business philosophy, made famous by Toyota where part of the process is that the person closest to the problem is probably best to solve the problem.
This requires that thinking has already been done up the chain so that the team member is dealing with a particular issue. If they are faced with uncertain goals, uncertain requirements, and uncertain constraints then they can’t make an informed decision on what is best for them to do.
In this case, decisions need to be made up the chain, i.e. in order so that the team member is set up for success, not crippling uncertainty.
Seek Information
Encouraging team members to ask questions to fully understand their tasks and to gain ownership of what they are doing.
This can be uncomfortable for some managers because they don’t know and have not been informed by the person in front of them in the decision order.
This means that as a leader you need to step into the ambiguity and ask questions of the people before you.
In a healthy work environment, asking and attempting to gain understanding should not only be expected but encouraged. If you, as the leader, do not get what you need then it will be harder but that doesn’t give you an out to not provide it for your team.
- Encourage your team to ask questions
- Make sure the decisions in the chain have already been answered
- Don’t solve problems out of order
Luke McMeeken-Ruscoe 