Improvement
From YWAMKnowledgeBase
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Whatever we do, we must do it better! One of the most helpful tools to improve whatever we do is the Control Loop. It isn't about being a 'control freak' but about being responsible and aware of exactly what we are supposed to tbe doing.
The Process
- Set Goals. Start here. Through whatever process you use, start with the measurable goals and targets. Try to get very specific, and then prioritize these goals. Not more than 3 goals should have highest priority.
- Do it, devise and undertake the work, and,
- Monitor results:
- Take the time to measure the defined indicators.
- Document the results in order to keep a long-term record.
- Compare what you got with what you planned for
- It may be higher, it may be lower.
- e.g. I planned to plant 6 new churches but planted only 3.
- Evaluate: Examine the difference and evaluate whether and how much it matters
- e.g. It was okay as there was qualitative growth.
- Decide. Make a decision. You can:
- Revise goals (E.g. It is impossible to reach 6, but I will strive for 4 new churches.) or
- Change Action plans (E.g. Until now, I stayed in this city. Maybe I should try to reach the surroundings.) or
- Leave work as is (E.g. I planted 8 new churches, so I really did well. I will go on doing the good work.)
An Example
As an example, we will analyze the process behind Website evaluation of ywamkb.net.
- Set Goals. Back in November 2008, Kevin wrote down his expectations to a "good" website in general. He knew that this applies also to the website that himself is managing (among others), but specific to ywamkb.net he only set the following goals:
- Steady growth, building a real knowledge base
- Do it. He did :-)
- Monitor results. In September 2009, Pitpat actually applied the mentioned website test to YWAMKB.
- Compare. Even if the result (3 fails, 1 pass) may be shocking at first glance, they reveal great points where the website can be ameliorated.
- Evaluate. So Kevin went back to these results and commented them, classing them by importance / relevance to this site.
- Decide. The last option, "continue without change", couldn't be chosen here, as the TODO-List demands attention. He could have changed the Website Evaluation Test and lower the target points, but Kevin felt challenged: We can do better. So he planned some extra hours on working on the website / the server, tracking down the big TODO-List of points that can/should change. Some points (e.g. PR) will need a mind shift, a continual change, so-to-speak.
