Visual System of Work

PRACTICAL TOOLS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS
GET BETTER FAST.

The VSOWTM Approach

Stabilize, Sustain, and Scale your business

through

Alignment, Transparency and Accountability

 

Stabilize

Sustain

Scale

Click on the title blocks, “Employees,” “Processes,” and “Projects” to see an explanation about each for the 3 phases.

Employees are stabilized through clear organizational structure, procedures and a structured task matrix

Processes are stabilized using a System of Work diagram and procedures

Projects are stabilized using planning sheets, System of Work diagram, procedures and matrices for tasks, time usage and meetings 

Employees are sustained through processes and work instructions, task matrices and meeting matrices to keep on track.

Processes are sustained using the System of Work and the Scoreboard to monitor performance

Projects are sustained using project planning sheets, as well as the time- and meeting matrices

Employees can scale with the direction of the strategic planning sheet using the project planning sheet and meeting matrix to guide and the Throughput Improvement Plan to facilitate breakthroughs

Processes can scale using the direction of the System of Work, monitoring of the scoreboard and the task matrices and Throughput Improvement Plan as the lever to breakthroughs

Projects are stabilized using planning sheets, System of Work diagram, procedures and matrices for tasks, time usage and meetings 

VSOWTM Online Course

Get a comprehensive view of VSOW with the online course, VSOW 3 Phase Transformation

Why VSOWTM ?

VSOWTM was designed to be simple.  Business processes can often be complicated enough without employing complex methods to analyze it.  VSOWTM uses 12 simple tools to assist the process of improving businesses of different sizes, structures and industries.

David T. Lord’s VSOWTM Toolkit book explains the tools in detail, including testimonies of clients and their experience using these tools.

Engage Your Employees

Give employees a clear view of the business – 0rganizationally, operationally and financially.  Help them understand easily how the business works and engage them to observe the business and help guide it to stability and growth.

Use simple, proven tools to quickly give team members better tools and a new level of excitement about making improvements in the business.

Make Your Processes Visible

Show easily how your business works, the inter-relations between business functions and what is important in keeping the business stable and to make improvements.

The simple VSOWTM tools provide a level of transparency in the workings of the company so that employees can work smarter, making their observations more effective in producing improvements

Complete Projects On-Time

Support team members with structure and tools to complete projects on-time starting with a project planning sheet placed in the context of the System of WorkTM and supported by task matrices, work instructions and meeting and time matrices.

With these elements in place and working, the Scoreboard measures progress while the Throughput Improvement Process gives leverage and direction for the project to drive toward not just on-time completion but effective results.

Increase Your Profits

Beginning with a Break-Even Snapshot to establish the business baseline for profitability, decisions can be quickly made using simple Throughput Accounting principles to orient projects toward results in increasing throughput.  Increases in throughput will produce more powerful results than intensive cost-cutting measures, and will give the broader team leverage to make changes that matter.

Using the Scoreboard together with the Throughput Improvement Plan managers can easily see how the business is responding to project implementation on the path toward higher profitability.

VSOW Client Experiences

Kathy Fish, President
Fish and Associates
Memphis, TN

Hiring David Lord to help me systematize my business is the single most important and impactful business decision I’ve ever made. With VSOW as a guide, we created a system of work, i.e. workflows, checklists, and processes for every administrative and operational procedure done in our office.

These systems allow us to give every new client that we engage a consistent experience that is thorough and repeatable. It has also allowed us to train new employees quickly and effectively.

Our old method of cost accounting per unit produced included the price of labor, the service parts, and sublet work, if necessary. When we converted to Throughput Accounting, where variable items are treated as fixed expenses, our system became more straightforward and made it easier to predict our net bottom line.

By organizing the Expense Accounts into expense groups within the Forecasting Spreadsheet, we could see what sales volume and capacity we needed in order to break-even and estimate the profit generated.

Mark Ryan, Owner/ President
Dixon & Ryan
Royal Oak, MI

Tim Ross, CEO
Ross Mortgage Corporation
Troy, MI

Imagine – you have an important issue that needs to be addressed that requires your company’s most experienced and creative minds. A great and spirited conversation ensues during which good ideas and potential solutions surface.  Now what?

Enter the 5W-2H. This power-packed tool has made a lasting impact on me and my company. A meeting designed to produce an outcome (What) can no longer be allowed to adjourn without the assignment of specific actions, that support the achievement of the outcome (Why) by the individuals (Who) tasked with its completion. Attached to the task is a date and location designating the individual responsible to report to the team (Where & When). The 5W-2H is an important tool for managing any project to a successful conclusion (How Long) and to confirm that it is delivered within the established budget (How Much).

Now I have the ability to convert conversation into specific actions and results!

Start Using VSOWTM

We make it easy for you to get started.  No weeks-long training.  No intensive off-sites.  No methods to memorize.

Start with a 30-minute call.  Then manageable steps.  We work with you and your team to implement the 12 VSOWTM tools to help your teams work better together, to make the business visible and make money.

Set up an Intro Call with us today.

VSOWTM Resources

Already a VSOWTM user and want to get refreshed, get tool resources or get additional training?  This is your gateway to resources to take you to the next level with VSOWTM.

VSOWTM Online Courses

Find out more about each of the VSOW Tools in the online course, VSOW 3 Phase Transformation

Let’s Work Together

We want to make it easy to improve.  If you would like to get more information on the Visual System of WorkTM (VSOWTM ), we would be happy to correspond with you or meet with you virtually.  Please fill out our contact form and we will respond to you shortly.