The Law of Misplaced Expectations: The Fourth Transformation Killer

Last week, we continued looking at key aspects that delay the transformations and we discussed the law of averages. This week we will look at the fourth law.

Unrealistic or misplaced expectations are a big culprit when dealing with transformations. The main thing is that no one in the company is responsible for making sure that the network continues to transform.

• Annual Capex Planning Cycle is not your Strategic Planning: Capex planning is a budgeting exercise, the decisions taken during that time should not govern the choice of network architecture or the choice of solutions or a benchmark for pricing. Strategic planning looks beyond the horizon of one year and need to come up with a plan that may need additional support during any given financial year for the company to reap longer term benefits.
• Your Operational Planning team cannot be expected to do strategic planning in their spare time: Operational teams do not have spare time. Period. Also, their mindset is designed for immediate. They are the people who are in the problem, we must not expect them to figure out what they may be doing wrong. Strategic planning or transformational planning is not a part time job.
• An Expert can lead out Transformation: Expecting an external consultant to provide suggestions is fine but expecting them to lead the transformation efforts is grossly misplaced. Transformation is not the job of one person. Multiple teams and their leaders need to have a stake in this effort, each one responsible for their own part in it. Else the effort is an outsider’s view and will fail to gather momentum.

One has to build a team and the mindset required for transformations, expecting them to just happen is unrealistic.

Stay tuned for more next week.