Systems are any company’s greatest asset. David Jenyn’s SYSTEMology provides a step-by-step approach to create and implement efficient, replicable systems. This is ideal for small/medium businesses that have achieved product-market fit and have at least a small team whose efforts and know-how can be replicated. In this free SYSTEMology summary, you’ll learn the 4 stages of business systemization and the 7 phases to take your business from survival mode to saleable mode.
Why SYSTEMology?
One of the greatest challenges for small and medium businesses is to overcome key-person dependency. Key-person dependency occurs when an organization relies too heavily on specific individuals’ knowledge or abilities, with no one else knowing how to step in. Systems eliminate key-person dependency by systematizing, or documenting, processes and tasks so that they no longer only live in the brain of a single individual. Once a process is systematized, it makes it much easier for another team member or new hire to step in without disrupting operations.
4 Stages of Systemization – Where is Your Business?
Most companies are in one of four stages in relation to systemization:
Survival – Still struggling to achieve product-market fit. Founders/owners are wear so many hats and are responsible for so many daily tasks that they become a bottleneck.- Stationary – The business has stabilized, but there is still no documentation of key processes. Leadership still has no time for strategic or high impact work.
- Scaleable – The business now has a proven model and core processes are documented, but there are still gaps and execution can still be reactionary and inconsistent.
- Saleable – Systems are reliable enough for key people to be able to step away without any adverse impacts, allowing them to focus on growth, other projects, etc.
Survival – Still struggling to achieve product-market fit. Founders/owners are wear so many hats and are responsible for so many daily tasks that they become a bottleneck.In order to benefit from the rest of this SYSTEMology summary, your business should ideally have achieved some level of product-market fit, traction, and operates with a small team. This is to make sure you have something to document and systematize!
How to Implement Systemology in 7 Phases
Here’s the gist of the phases involved to capture and build your own systems. The book breaks down each phase into specific tools and tips to guide you along each step. You can also get a detailed outline in our complete 17-page SYSTEMology summary.
Phase 1: Define
Get an overview of the critical systems your business needs to make money. Pick one target client and one main product. Map out your Critical Client Flow™ by figuring out your main activities for:
- Attention
- Enquiry
- Sales
- Payment
- Onboarding
- Delivery
- Repeat Purchase
Phase 2: Assign
List your key departments. Assign pieces of your Critical Client Flow™ to each department, and identify Department Heads and Knowledgeable Workers who have the critical know-how for each task.
Phase 3: Extract
Capture the team’s knowledge and convert it into a shareable, replicable system. Record the processes of each Knowledgeable Worker with clear steps and details. Gather and store this documentation in an organized, consistent, and clearly labeled repository with folders, links, and descriptions.
Phase 4: Organize
Organize your systems so people will actually follow them. There are two main tools you need – systems management software (SMS) and project management software (PMS). A SMS and PMS will make it easy for your team to find the information they need and to stay accountable.
Phase 5: Integrate
Change old habits, build new ones, and cultivate a systems-oriented culture. Find the right manager who is a systems champion with strong attention to detail and organization. Have them engage the team in developing, implementing, and ultimately following the systems created.
Phase 6: Scale
Keep extracting and organizing until you can scale up or grasp new opportunities. Consistently work to free up your best talent to focus on high payoff activities like business development, product development, etc.
Phase 7: Optimize
Build a dashboard of key metrics. Use your results to dial in and optimize your systems. When you change one system in your business, it can have far-reaching effects because all systems are interrelated. So you need to monitor the results to assess whether a change is truly working or not.
Getting the Most from SYSTEMology
Systems will allow you and your team space to do the high-value activities that will propel your business to success. If you’re wondering how to implement the 7 phases above and start developing your own systems, check out our full book summary bundle, which includes an infographic, 17-page text summary, and 26-minute audio summary.
You can also purchase the book here or visit systemology.com.
Want more resources on systemizing and automating your business? We strongly recommend these other resources: read our Clockwork summary and The Business Playbook summary, as well as our summary for how to Work the System.
About the Author of SYSTEMology
SYSTEMology: Create time, reduce errors and scale your profits with proven business systems is written by David Jenyn–an author and serial entrepreneur. He has owned, run and been involved in various businesses including a digital marketing business, courses, retail franchising, and software as a service. He is the founder of systemHUB® and the SYSTEMology® movement, with the mission to free business owners from their day-to-day operations of their businesses.
SYSTEMology Quotes
“Success is lumpy and opportunity knocks when you’re least expecting it.”
“Play to your team’s strengths and do everything in your power to make it easier for them to do their best work.”
“Fix your team communications and you’ll solve 80 per cent of your problems.”
“Your business as a system is only as strong as its weakest link.”
“Business is simply a game of problem-solving.”
“Small gains, when multiplied out, equal big wins on the bottom line.”
Click here to download SYSTEMology infographic & summary
