Be prepared for innovations

The faster the development of technologies, the more every employee has to know, no matter if it as a mechanician, an agronomist or an operator. However, the readiness for innovation is not an easy question. To understand those who are afraid of innovation, remember your first experience with a GPS tracker or a remote control. Have You remembered? Now, think about the ways to make the development process comfortable for others. In my opinion, it is one of the most important tasks for a top manager.

Here is an example of implementation of a unified information system in our company. Of course, the market had offered a large number of options, but we should have chosen the best one. However, the main managerial work began when it had been necessary to adapt solutions to the realities of Agricom Group. We had to modify existing business processes considering the aspects of convenience for users, as well as we had to build a complete picture, which objectively reflected the current situation within all enterprises of the group. Finally, we have managed to achieve this ambitious goal. By the way, except head officers, all other employees are active users of the system.

There is a question: why does an agronomist have to fulfil duties of a computer operator without an opportunity to use the information product in accordance with his arears of responsibility? Without such particularities any system could hardly ever actually work. People successfully get used to the new technological solutions if they really want to do that, and, consequently, there must be a reason to do that. Nice example with the GPS tracker: the desire to learn something new in order to simplify life.

A highly experience head officer works for one of the enterprises of Chernihiv Cluster. Once he said to me in private, “You know, Petro, I had been asking myself for a few month during the implementation of an information system Agricom, whether it was worth doing or not. I was skeptical about the process in spite of detailed explanation of specialists from the department of corporate systems, as I did not understand what we would get as a result. I am not a young person and I am not very good at using of a computer. Previously, head officers had to control everything in person, as there was no other option. So we all had been living for all these years on a principle “a dog that trots about finds a bone ” And now, I am seventy years old and I have discovered a new world receiving the opportunity to use the new system. I would like to thank for a such opportunity.”

In any case, it is important for every employee to find and master new tools for effective work on his own initiative. The creation of appropriate conditions for employees to implement innovations is an important task of any top manager, who should encourage the initiatives of subordinates. Of course, such top manager will be responsible for failures on any level, especially when it is the implementation of new different projects. That is why, usage of automation information systems allows to control any business process online and make necessary decisions as well as correct actions as soon as possible. Here is an excellent example of experience of Agricom Group. Before the cropping season 2015, the head of logistics offered to introduce a three-tier system of harvesting, namely use of loading bunkers, which essentially changed the classic scheme of “combine harvester –grain truck”. At first, we optimistically planned to reduce transport costs by 30%, but with the means of monitoring and based on the reality, we received the reduction of transport costs by 18-23% depending on the location and characteristics of the field.

Of course, it is impossible to find multifunctional solution for every filed. Each manager has a chance to create his own business model, which efficiency will be checked in real-life situations. Based on the dynamic of business development, strategies for building of business processes have to be reviewed from time to time. Is it possible to talk about success without generating of changes wondering about the reasons for the lack of effectiveness in various aspects of work?

To create an effective organization, authority need to be replaced by responsibility, as one classic author said. Moreover, the most successful managerial decisions are made when “The human factor “ is taken into account. Every time I take a notice of it when a new challenge appears before Agricom Group or the next changes are to be made.