Typically in a product company, we tend to have a suite of products for any particular business line, which usually are termed as individual projects. At times these products are interdependent. (Now here, adding a personal flavor) We could assume a person working on a product is proud of or loves the product that he/she works on. However, at certain stages this person requires to take inputs from the other products. What could a person possibly do at such a juncture? Depending on this understanding of his own product as well as the other product there are a few options for him to choose from:
1) Sort the issue at hand himself
2) Ask for help from a person working on the other product
3) Ask for help from a person working on the same product
4) Find out information and sort the issue himself
What do we find majority of the people doing? Mostly the 2nd and 3rd options.
Agreed that doing this satisfies 2 of the most important aspects essential for the progress of the organisation i.e. saving time and increasing communication. However, if the person opts for the 4th option and gradually progresses towards the 1st then not only will he profit from it, but so will the organisation in terms of having more productive and multi-talented people working for it!
However, for a variety of reasons (unfathomable for me, yet) people shy away from profiting themselves and in turn the organisation.
Could it perhaps be because our definition of profit is linked only to the salary credited in the immediate month? Though business exists for this very reason, if we can move towards personal/intellectual growth money is going to pour in anyway!
And thinking about the no one is going to stop an employee from profiting as the sole goal of business itself is profit!
Perhaps its time to think if we really understand the roots of what we do and where we intend to go!
A bit of philosophy here, but what the heck! ;) we business analysts get some time on our hands to "think" some times ;)
