On a recent excursion to a Rubik's Cube Convention with my son, one of the events specifically validated the importance of planning for all healthcare implementations. One of competitors solved a standard 3x3 Rubik’s cube in 3 minutes 32 seconds, all while blindfolded!!!
First, I didn’t know that these conventions existed! Secondly, we are all familiar with a standard Rubik’s cube; a 3x3 cube consisting of six different colours. Did you know that there are 4x4, 5x5, 2x2 cubes plus a multitude of other designs?
So how does solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded help improve healthcare implementations? And how is it possible to solve any Rubik’s Cube blind folded (other than a 1x1!)?
The participants at this event, many of them teenagers, unbeknownst to them, were following the tried and true technic of project planning. The approach to solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded involves spending most of the actual time planning your “solve”. The competitors would spend a significant amount of time (sometimes more than half the time) analyzing the patterns of colours on the cube and then spend time planning their moves. The competitors would, based on their memory planning their attack, attempt to solve the cube with their blindfold on.
Project planning in healthcare projects involves a similar approach. A significant amount of time needs to be invested in each project prior to engaging. Understanding the environment, carefully analyzing the circumstances of the project, reviewing patterns of prior projects and interviewing the clinic or hospital staff for their input are crucial for success. The actual execution time may be less than the planning and analysis stage of the project.
Leaving the competition, these teenagers validated that planning is a very important part of every project. I’m also incredibly happy that our clients prefer we do not execute our projects blindfolded!
First, I didn’t know that these conventions existed! Secondly, we are all familiar with a standard Rubik’s cube; a 3x3 cube consisting of six different colours. Did you know that there are 4x4, 5x5, 2x2 cubes plus a multitude of other designs?
So how does solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded help improve healthcare implementations? And how is it possible to solve any Rubik’s Cube blind folded (other than a 1x1!)?
The participants at this event, many of them teenagers, unbeknownst to them, were following the tried and true technic of project planning. The approach to solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded involves spending most of the actual time planning your “solve”. The competitors would spend a significant amount of time (sometimes more than half the time) analyzing the patterns of colours on the cube and then spend time planning their moves. The competitors would, based on their memory planning their attack, attempt to solve the cube with their blindfold on.
Project planning in healthcare projects involves a similar approach. A significant amount of time needs to be invested in each project prior to engaging. Understanding the environment, carefully analyzing the circumstances of the project, reviewing patterns of prior projects and interviewing the clinic or hospital staff for their input are crucial for success. The actual execution time may be less than the planning and analysis stage of the project.
Leaving the competition, these teenagers validated that planning is a very important part of every project. I’m also incredibly happy that our clients prefer we do not execute our projects blindfolded!
