As a business continues to expand, the growth comes with a lot of extra things to think about. From keeping track of a large workforce to staying on top of project management, the new challenges require new solutions.
In many cases, new tools and processes are introduced to help the business manage the increase in workload. Although this may do the job initially, as more and more systems are implemented, the complexity can actually result in lost productivity.
Below are three of the most common reasons that workplace complexity is unknowingly slowing down large businesses, alongside some solutions that can be put in place to address them.
1. Too Many HR Systems In Place
An HR team is the backbone of any workforce, and if they are not able to carry out their duties to their full potential, it is going to have a knock-on effect throughout the entire company.
One of the most common issues within a large business is the number of systems in place, and 41% of HR workers say they are having to juggle between five and nine different programs at the same time.
This typically happens when a business is adapting to new needs as it grows, but this can result in a complex outcome that leaves HR employees having to understand and manage multiple different tools at once.
How to avoid it
Less is often more when it comes to HR tools, as it avoids data duplication, speeds up processes, and makes it much easier for new HR employees to pick up.
Instead of adding new tools to the collection, large businesses should switch to an integrated platform that centralizes all processes.
A good example of this is Access PeopleXD Evo. Being designed for large organisations, it allows businesses to create a custom HR software suite that manages the entire employee lifecycle.
2. Slow Decision-Making Processes
Many businesses require decisions to be signed off on by various employees before they can proceed in an attempt to maintain quality and avoid mistakes. Although this has benefits, as the team grows and more people are added, it can become time-consuming.
If just one person is unavailable at the time or unresponsive to requests, it can slow progress and create bottlenecks for the rest of the team.
When dealing with clients or trying to meet a tight deadline, these sign-off processes can become a big source of stress. Not only does it slow the process, but it also requires people to interrupt their other duties to review the decisions.
How to avoid it
If slow decision-making is becoming an ongoing issue, changes need to be made to speed up the process without sacrificing output quality.
Not every decision needs to be signed off by every department and manager, so review requirements should be tailored to the project’s needs.
By including only those directly involved in the project and keeping the team tight, a thorough process remains in place, but it should be sped up significantly.
3. Misalignment In Priorities
Cross-departmental collaboration is essential for combining expertise and working towards a shared goal, but if there are not good working relationships in place, it can make the process slow, inefficient, and problematic.
As more and more people join a company, the dynamic shifts and the collaboration between teams can take a hit.
If people don’t know who to turn to or find that other teams are unwilling to help, it can weaken a project’s outcome and result in misalignments across the company.
How to avoid it
Since 34% of employees do not consider their workplace a community, there is a clear need for business owners to review their team dynamics.
As the workforce grows and people come and go, it can be tough to maintain a strong community culture. This is where additional initiatives are needed.
Efforts should be made to encourage collaboration among teams. Acts as small as introducing new starters to different departments, carrying out team-building events, and using an online collaboration tool such as Microsoft Teams or Slack are all good ways to integrate the wider team.
Maintaining Efficiency in a Growing Business
Workplace complexity is often tough to identify from the inside as it naturally builds up as a business grows and new systems are implemented.
As well as making everyday tasks more time-consuming for employees, complex systems can be especially difficult for new starters, as they take time to get the hang of. By simplifying processes and streamlining workforce management, businesses can increase overall productivity and make everyday life easier for their employees.
