Changes in the Business Environment in the last couple of years were both unexpected and faster than ever. Disruptions need not only be because of technologies but also due to changes in policies and regulations. In India, most of the impacts on Business in the last couple of Years has been fairly due to the later, while we await with greater uncertainty the impact of former.
3Rs of Business Processes Management - Reduce, Recycle & Re-use, is being practiced all across, though not with equal sincerity. Kind of breaches we come across reinforces that all is not that well in this front. However, 3Rs help organisations more as an internal tool for overall well being rather being a mere regulatory. As a prudent Business Man, focus should always be on the first R - Reduce, Reduce & Reduce. Why consume more and then look for Recycling and Reusing opportunities, best is to focus on reduction.
Save to Reduce:
Indian culture was imbibed in a Savings Culture, and I repeat was. Unfortunately, thanks to faster socio-economic integration with rest of the world, we tend to behave Westernised. As a result, consumerism seems to be forefront of all developments and growth!
Keeping the economy buoyant by encouraging consumption is after all what all Businesses like. However, the flip side of such consumption will be the strain it leaves on the physical environment. Consumption coupled with population growth and thus the market growth impedes ecological development. We hope to overcome this guilt by compelling Green Development.
Instead imagine if the focus shifts to savings all across society - Save Water, Save Energy, Save Labour, Save Money, Save Materials….The same impact can be carried forward to businesses. Typically, either in a Shopping Mall or in a Manufacturing organisation, a unit of energy saved with respect to a unit of sale will have a multiplier effect, helping to save in millions of rupees. The same can be extended to Capital investments, Material consumption, Labour Consumption and all other such resources.
It is always Save Today for Tomorrow’s Needs.
Secure to Reduce:
It is natural to believe, more we work more we produce. Does this mean we also become productive longer we work? It should be remembered; work expands to fill the time, resulting in gross inefficiencies. Same is true for all resources - we tend to consume more as available. Best is to constrain ourselves by setting targets for target profits - self restriction.
This will lead to a culture of measurements on consumption of all resources at point of consumption - time, material, man-power and machinery. Industry 4.0 is a result of this need to capture, measure, benchmark and improve. This is true even in our personal behaviour. Reviewing inventory at home might reveal some of the purchases may not even be touched for considerable time. Today, even people who can afford multiple cars use Ola and Uber - both for ease and convenience. It is a good beginning.
Savings in resources securing our future need not be overemphasised.
Reduce to Sustain:
Test of sufficiency need to be performed often against set goals and parameters. Resources should be adequately sufficient - neither more and never less. Today sustaining what we do when we do is paramount to continued success - both personally and professionally. How much we take care of ourselves is akin to taking care of our business processes. What we do is equally important while why is defined by the market forces.
Obviously Savings offers the necessary Security to Sustain our activities and processes towards intended results.