NB! This blog post is outdated, read the updated version instead
Are you tired of e-mailing Excel files no-one responds to? You are not alone. Many people working with ABC Analyzer experience that their work does not have the desired impact, as they have no proper distribution channel & no way to follow-up.
At ABC, we have developed ABC Checklists to help you addressing this challenge! It is an easy way to share reports and click reports directly from ABC Analyzer.
Why is this smarter than ordinary spreadsheets? (Because you can see if people take action)
ABC Checklists allow you to keep track of progress, and monitor when/if people start working on the lists you send them. (Read how Carl Ras uses ABC Checklists). The online dashboard displays all the checklists you sent to colleagues (see picture above)
- A grey bar (far right) means that people have not opened to your list.
- When the bar turns green/yellow/red, you know that they are working on it!
What does a checklist look like?
A checklist is very similar to a neat spreadsheet. The biggest difference is that it’s online and you move products from one category (TO DO) to another (Done) to show you’re working on it.
Please note! ABC Checklists cannot “solve” inefficient workflows!
Everyone can access and use ABC Checklists, but remember: A checklist is only a list – it is not the entire solution. There are classic challenges we often forget in a busy working day.
- Make it easy to solve the task. Create short checklists with clear objectives, e.g.: Can we discard these products? (Possible responses: Yes, no or wait!)
- Tell me what to do. The person receiving the list must understand what they have to do with the products. Spell it out. Few people take the time to trawl through lengthy ‘information lists’ and come up with the needed actions.
- Make the priority clear. Your colleagues work hard, and carefully prioritize their time. Ensure that they understand the importance of the tasks you give them. If they don’t feel that the task is important, they won’t do it. Perhaps there are other, more relevant, challenges you need to tackle together first?