| Business is complex and that complexity demands big | | | | 2. Hole two is the drain to the cash box. |
| solutions. Yet, in many cases, in the quest to find a | | | | 3. Hole three creates another entry for more flies to |
| quick solution, some management teams may use an | | | | enter the organization. |
| elephant gun when a fly swatter would work even | | | | For years, companies have focused their energies |
| better. | | | | and resources on the knowledge and skills necessary |
| Elephant guns range from the big change | | | | for business success. Knowledge and skills are the big |
| management initiatives to the many training and | | | | elephants and suggest the use of elephant guns |
| development solutions to the quality programs such | | | | through training and development programs. |
| as lean to six sigma. These guns shoot out round | | | | However, the attitudes and habits residing within |
| after round of new knowledge and skills all in the | | | | each and every individual are the real leverage to |
| attempt to solve the current challenges. Yet, if the | | | | business success or to business failure. These small |
| elephant guns were effective, then why are the | | | | flies can bring down the very best companies. |
| same change challenges returning? Why for example | | | | Common sense suggests that elephant guns are not |
| does it take up to 7 years to integrate a total quality | | | | effective in killing flies. |
| management system? Could the aim have missed the | | | | When the focus changes to the fly, then the tool to |
| fly? | | | | catch the fly also changes. By identifying the fly or |
| Flies are the attitudes and habits that swarm around | | | | flies, a more effective solution can be crafted to deal |
| the culture of every organization. They quick swarm | | | | with the pending change issue. And in many |
| together to give the impression of a significant | | | | instances, this stops the constant drain to the cash |
| problem, but in a blink of an eye they can disappear. | | | | box. |
| By the time the elephant gun is loaded and fired, the | | | | So if you are experiencing some negative change and |
| fly is gone leaving three large holes. | | | | begin to reach for that elephant gun, maybe you |
| | | | should separate the elephants from the flies and |
| 1. Hole one is missing the problem such as training and | | | | reach for the closet fly swatter. |
| development or quality programs. | | | | |