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The concept is feasible, if it functions comprehensibly

In art and entertainment, you can find formats that are based on improvisation. Action Painting, Jazz, Improvisational theater or talk shows offer a simple framework where the participants create results that are not previously planned in detail. In the construction of buildings, the programming of IT-applications or the foundation of an enterprise, a more extensive preparation is indispensable. The various parts are developed in relationship to one another. They are supposed to fit eventually as planned. One of the leadership tasks is it to ensure a consistent concept, besides the self-management, the coordination, the communication and cooperation. At best, one starts with a short description that shows that the intention is logically feasible.

Konzeption

In this first sketch, the following four aspects should be described in a way that one can decide, whether the effort of a detailed concept is worth it.

  • Goals
    This is to describe the desired target state as goals – the main goal and the corresponding sub goals. They should be formulated in a way that also outsiders understand the project.
  • Premises
    Thepremises describe the conditions that have to be fulfilled, in order to realize the project. This includes the required number of employees, the needed financial means, the necessary infrastructure (i.e the hard and software, spaces and media of all kinds) as well as the crucial skills and knowledge.
  • Results
    Theresults are always products and/or services. Products are split into expendable or durable goods. Services are person- or object-related. At this point, the understandable, complete list is better than results that are described in detail. In later preparation, the individual results are specified in more detail.
  • Explanation
    Theexplanations should further clarify the project to the reader. The vision and the mission obtain thereby the purpose of the plan. The listing of the substantial functions and processes convey the way, how the individual elements work with each other. The history and additional interesting information complete the picture. The explanations should be limited to those aspects that clarify the project and be formulated short and simple.

The biggest challenges in describing the concept are the determination of the length and the level of detail that should be prepared at this point of time, at the beginning of the process. Since the size of a project differs very much, there is no clear answer about the number of pages or other key figures. As rule of thumb, consider the following:

  • Outline as extensive, as necessary for understanding.
  • Describe as detailed, as necessary for the current decision.
  • Invest as little time, as possible.
  • Illustrate always goals, premises, results and explanations, as clearly as possible.

Eventually, you should be able to say: The concept is feasible, if it functions comprehensibly.

Dynamic limits

In a world that is evaluated and assessed become more and more limits significant. It is difficult to get through the jungle of data. For this reason orientation levels are determined, so-called limits. In Germany, for example, the limit for radioactive radiation is 20mSv per year and/or 400 mSv for the entire working life. In Japan, TepCo increased the limits in the course of the accident of Fukushima from 100 to 250 mSv per year. This shows that limits are not cast in stone. Limits change.

Blutbild

The variability is defined by the appropriate organizations – authorities and specialized institutions. Goal is the definition of the value from where negative effects are expected, e.g. health risks from radiation, noise or harmful substances in food.

Limits have the following weaknesses.

  • They refer to separated circumstances – individual substance or an individual sound.
  • They relate to a certain period.
  • They are defined for healthy people.
  • They are valid for average humans.
  • They do not consider reciprocal effects or gradual accumulations.

and

  • They are not naturally given, but bureaucratically determined.
  • They are compromises between the involved stakeholders.
  • They depend on the state of science at the moment the definition.
  • They depend on scientific proof.
  • They are changed again and again.

and

  • Within the limits, it is by definition healthy.
  • Outside of the limits, it is by definition unhealthy.
  • The difference between healthy and not healthy is very small – for people exposed to radiation in Germany 19 mSv per year are considered harmless and 21 mSv per year as dangerous (Japanese limits see above).

Bottom line: Limits should be looked at critically, since they suggest security, but are based on determination that can be changed at any time. Neither the basic conditions of the definition, nor the interaction of different aspects or the apparently objective criteria provide watertight statements. Limits develop continuously to a political instrument. For these reasons, they should always be questioned critically.