A guest post by Josh Reeves

Want a successful business? Start a RIOTT! From the beginning of time, entrepreneurs starting up or taking over a business have wanted to know three important measures:
• Is my business doing the right thing?
• Are we the most efficient we can be?
• How do we become efficient if we are not?

From the time Henry Ford incorporated Ford Motor Company in 1903, until he launched the Model T in 1908, his quest to maximize production efficiency for this vehicle was balanced with making sure he was also doing the right things. Cost cutting and employee squeezing does not fit every product model. In fact, some companies have been more successful by paying higher salaries and spending lavishly on the work environment. So the question is, how do you know what is right for your business?



Start a RIOTT. That's right. Start a RIOTT. As opposed to a violent disturbance of the peace, in business consulting, a RIOTT is a fantastic methodology to incorporate into your regular management operations. R-I-O-T-T stands for Review, Interview, Observe, Test, and Train.

Review- Someone independent of the daily grind needs to review all the documentation and processes that you have set up for your business. An independent look is necessary; otherwise flawed processes are overlooked for convenience rather than improving business.

Interview- After thorough review of all processes and documentation, interviews of random employees are conducted to gather an understanding of their knowledge and grasp of the process and compliance expectations. The findings are astonishing and usually reveal that this is the biggest gap in most companies, since usually the first budget cut is training.

Observe- No matter how the interviews go, an observation of the present work environment and actual processes being followed is essential. Companies must ask themselves if they are practicing what they preach, or simply cutting corners for convenience. Looking good only on paper doesn't translate into compliance, efficiency, and results.

Test- Demonstrating mastery on any subject generally concludes with a test, and business process mastery is no different. An important step in the RIOTT method is testing the processes you are investigating to ensure that what people were taught, and what they told you they understand, hold up to the test. Will they bend the rules, or completely break them, depending on what the customer, executive, or current need requires?

Train- This stage occurs on several levels. First, the executives must learn how their business is viewed from an independent perspective. From this, a plan can be made on changes and improvements that must happen in order to align what should be taking place, and what is actual practice. Second, all levels of employees need to be taught the importance and value for why things are set up the way they are. Until someone truly understands the impact of why they need to do things a certain way, they can't understand why they shouldn't do them a different way for convenience. After all, they believe they have helped the company but instead have only confused convenience with efficiency. Controls need to be put in place so numbers and reports can tell how things are progressing and true measurement is normal practice.

The Independent Consulting Bootcamp defines "consulting methodology" as: "methods or approaches used by consultants in tackling a particular challenge, problem, or client engagement."

While there are many different ways to approach looking inside your business, the RIOTT method incorporates all facets needed for change. The goal of RIOTT is to provide companies with all of the information they need to gain a complete understanding of their current process and offer the tools to help audit those findings. The result of a RIOTT is a road map to develop an improvement plan.

Would you like to start a RIOTT in your company? Entero Solutions is a Business Management and IT Security compliance consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. Once engaged, you will have access to experienced business executives who have traveled the globe helping companies through any part of the business cycle: from launch to sale. Entero Solutions can provide you the necessary help you need to start a RIOTT in your company.

Josh Reeves is the CEO of Entero Solutions (a BPO consulting firm), and VP of Global Sales for TeleServices Direct. Contact Josh at 512-669-5ROI or josh.reeves@enterosolutions.com for an initial consultation. Find Josh on Twitter: @mendavis08.