Systems.
Definition
A set of connected parts forming a complex whole,
designed to remove reliance on any single individual.
01
The Problem
Most small businesses rely on "Heroes".
Heroes are great. But Heroes are bottlenecks.
- Everything runs through you
- Decisions wait for your approval
- Quality drops when you step away
- Onboarding takes months
02
System Requirements
REQ_01
Explicit Rules
No implicit knowledge. If it's not written, it doesn't exist.
REQ_02
Binary Outcomes
Tasks are either Done or Not Done. No 'Checking' state.
REQ_03
Single Owner
Shared ownership is no ownership.
03
What is Not a System
A pretty Notion page is not a system.
A Slack channel is not a system.
A verbal agreement is not a system.
/// Alert: These are distractions.
04
Failure Modes
Mode A
Drift
Teams slowly ignore the documentation and return to old habits. Solved by audit.
Mode B
Bureaucracy
The process becomes more important than the outcome. Solved by pruning.