Creating Systems & Processes that provide the framework for rapid growth. Scaling Startups...

Creating systems and processes that provide the framework for

rapid growth.

GarethKnighthttp://wedo.co.uk/

Hello, and thank you ;-)

The Dream.

Let's do some sense checking:

Ecomm / SaaS / App / Service provider ?Age of business?

Number of people?

Some context

I’m a zoologist. I see ecosystems everywhere.

Wedo

2 Yrs in @PassionCapital space @whitebearyard.Now in Oval & Store in Colchester.

1 to 4 in 2 yrs.4 to 8 in 9 months.

8 to 40 people in 24 months.

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This is what I’ve learntthus far.

Systems & automation are the

lever for sustainablegrowth.

This talk is split into 4 parts:

1) The ”Framework”2) Opportunities3) Examples4) Do’s and Don’ts

Maslow’s Heirarchy of Systems for Startups.

Or, a framework of sorts.

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Increase visibility

You need to see where you’ve been and where you’re going.

Data capture for this is time consuming.

Reduce friction

Friction is anything that slows you down.Identify, then get rid of it.

Create leverage

Figure out processes that can be offloaded to more junior people. Thenoffload.

Save time

Front to back.

Examples: reporting weekly.

processing orders.processing accounts.

updating / editing data.deploying to production.

adding products / data / features.

Optimise team

Move away from manual work. Encourage thinking and problem solving. Give opportunies for

career growth.

Always Be Nimble

Speed is your weapon in early stages.

Opportunities for Systems

Communication

Understand difference between idea, project, task, information, data & wisdom. Use right tool for

each.

Elimination of reliance on email.

Rely on email at your peril. Focus on execution and reducing friction between tasks.

File Sharing

X Drive?Just use Dropbox for Business.

Until you get too big for it, then buy a NAS.

Workflow

Use central system fit for purpose.

Asana.

Data

Every piece of data is just a field in a database.It can be retrieved, pivoted, looked up, compared,

sliced and diced.

Recruitment

150 – 300 cv’s per hire.Hiring process & system with rules.

Reporting

What needs extraction?What can be automated?

Google Docs & GA + GeckoBoard

Infrastructure

The days of manual serverbuild& config are over.

Speak to Jon Topper @ Scale factory.

Accounts

Manual >Magento>Xero>BrightPearl> ?

ERP

Magento > BrightPearl > ?

B2B Sales

Process? SaleForce?

Use the Cloud

It’s a Cliche, but…

Google: Mail, Calendar, Docs, Wiki

DropBox/ AWS / Trello/ Asana / TeamGantt /wpTeamsite / Magento/ BrightPearl / Desk.com

Workable / GoSquared / Geckoboard / MixPanel / Optimizely / CrazyEgg

Some (painful) examples

One Team, One Dream

The introduction of new systems means change. People generally resist change.

One Click Deployments

Not just code. Entire platform as a Service.

The Recruitment Funnel.

Email > Desk.com > Resumator > Workable

Do’s, Don’ts, Gotcha’s

Do set boundaries

Do train your team to think in systems, not absolutes.

Do use KPI’s to measure system performance.

Set baselines and warning bells.

Do pick your KPI’s carefully

Do give team ownership of KPI’s. Give them autonomy.

Teach them cause & effect.

Do use traffic lights to highlight problems.

Do dig into your numbers

Do review your team decisions, but let them own the outcomes

Do remove ambiguity: the data doesn’t lie.

Do ask: How can we automate this? How can we move faster?

Read ”The Checklist Manifesto”.Do use checklists for

consistency. Train your team to do the same.

Don’t make assumptions

Don’t re-invent the wheel.

Don’t try to own your own infrastructure

Each point of scale requires different systems.

Peoplewillreachtheirlimits.

Peopleare the hardest to systemetise.

Hire slow, fire fast.Attitude over aptitude.

It takes time. It really does.

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Thankyou!

GarethKnight@oneafrikan

http://wedo.co.uk/http://oneafrikan.com/