I make it a rule not to talk about politics on social media, and I will not make this about politics. However, when I see a man wielding a chainsaw representing the US Department of Government Efficiency, my hair starts to stand on the back of my neck. It is the same feeling I get when someone says, “We run a very ‘lean’ operation.” This usually means they lack the resources to do the job correctly. Running an operation without sufficient resources is not lean nor efficient; it actually creates more WASTE.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all about trimming the fat or eliminating operations that don’t add value, but operational efficiency is studying the process well enough to be confident that the operation has the right resources to operate with the least waste. It is like when people go to a seminar on Lean Manufacturing and then get rid of their inventory because they learned that inventory was waste. They missed the point. Inventory is at times essential for managing the process well. It is about only having the necessary inventory available to satisfy the customer, and is replenished at the proper rates.
It is evident that the new US Administration values specific departments differently than previous administrations have operated under. We must remind ourselves that our mission is the foundation of what we do and keeps us centered on the value we provide to our customers.
When our center shifts, shifting priorities to match your new mission is okay. However, once we know the real value we provide, we must establish our process to provide that value effectively.
Instead of pressuring employees to justify their existence, DOGE should map out processes to understand how they provide value using the people who offer it daily. Done right, everyone would realize that the same work could be done with fewer people. At that point, the writing would be on the wall. Leaders would then eliminate positions with confidence that it won’t
impact their mission, or better, use those positions to implement more improvements and leverage attrition to reappropriate people into necessary positions.
Using Kaizen to study process is the right way to make long term improvements, while ensuring your organization continues to provide the value mandated by your stakeholders. Taking a chainsaw to everything may cut cost, but it will also cut value to your customer and create unwanted waste in the process.
Become confident that the right resources produce the right value for your organization.
