SPCS is a philosophy. It’s my philosophy.
I believe that the effectiveness of any process is proportional to its adherence to four basic principles.
First, the process must be Simple. This means that it:
- is easily explained
- is broadly applicable
- feels appropriate
Next, the process must be Practical. A practical process:
- resolves the immediate and visible symptoms
- fits into the existing environment
- uses available resources
The process must also be Complete. Complete processes:
- address root causes
- teach new behaviors
- have supporting tools and documentation
And, finally, the process must be Sustainable. A process is sustainable when it:
- creates the right habits
- is self-reinforcing
- sparks a cultural shift
These principles present a few implications.
If you believe in SPCS, you tend to be skeptical of new and trendy management innovations. Management fads come and go, usually failing on all four principles. It’s better to recognize that proven solutions can nearly always be adapted to solve whatever the current issue might be.
SPCS also helps you see that difficult and unique “problems” are the result of some other, more basic, problem that can be resolved with an SPCS solution. Fix the basic problem, and everything else resolves itself.
And disruptive “initiatives” are, by their nature, rarely simple or sustainable. Evolution is better than revolution.