People,Process,Technology (PPT) Optimization

Will PPT become PT (Process and Technology)? Could there have been a layoff safeguard?

• With AI making headway at a highly accelerated pace.
• With all the Process Improvements we install, do we work ourselves out of the roles.
• In situations where there is such high overlap of workers
• Where the technology/tools are replacing the need for certain functions

In this article, I want to pitch a perspective and approach which is entirely being missed. I strongly believe most of these layoffs could have been prevented.

PPT Optimization (People, Process and Technology)

Now WHAT the heck does that mean?

From all the conversations I have around this space, I am finding more and more themes to indicate we generalize how to understand and apply this within a business organization. PPT is a mechanism to understand the intersect between these areas to which an individual or organization should use towards the maturation of the business.

PPT Optimization is a deeper and evolutionary method to determine what is the right mixture of these areas to drive efficiencies and scalable practices within an organization.

How we currently leverage PPT in business is just top line or filler talk. This is "flashy" business jargon which leads to the dark abyss of space. You find yourself tuning out as it turns into "Charlie Browns" parents jibberish.

When we think about PPT, this is how we visually represent it.

Now what are you going to do with that?

Most do nothing substantial. I rarely hear or see this being mapped out or handled well within organizations. It is usually some form of tribal / subjective knowledge.

Ok great, now get to the point of the Solution?

I placed some subliminal images on the Traditional PPT visual as a clue.

• Do you see the grid in the background?

PPT Optimization if you were to re-imagine it would look something like a 3 dimensional scatter plot. (In this example the picture to imagine is the investment into building out certain products, do not get caught up on the widgets, focus on the over arching concept)

The concept here is simple, each area has a scoring. This scoring then leads to mapping out visually what type of mixture is needed to support a given Program and or Business area.

Here are some ways/examples of thinking about each area in a form of metrics:

• People - How many people are needed to manage the business area?
• Process - How many processes exist which have task related activities?
• Technology - How much work coverage does the technology or tool impact?

Other factors to consider:

• For the example if their is a need to maintain relationships, you can not do this holistically through a tool. Sending digital communications for basic things can be automated, but we all know what happens when we get bombarded by "cookie cutter" communications. Us as humans tune out. So how would this be handled.

Again easy, the weighting for people would be significantly higher.

There is so much you can do with this. It can be started at a high level and small, then expand.

The key outcome of such an exercise is being clear on what PPT mixture is right for the business, then assessing the current state of how the business is doing against it.

FINAL THOUGHT: PPT will never be PT

Not all business areas are the same and have the same needs, AI will change they way business works, but PEOPLE will always be needed and a staple to business in one form or another.

If this is interesting to you and or you have other questions, feel free to reach out to me.