A task when taken over by a new team, gets simplified to large extent. Often a task is performed periodically like preparing annual budgets, giving compliance to Board, Management, etc., in any organisation. When a given team takes up the task for the first time, they design the subroutines, formats, information flows,etc in quite an elaborate manner and the task being new more manpower and thinking resources are spent in streamlining the task. As the time flows, the task is reviewed, redesigned and protocols put in place. Being the initiators, the team also strives to maintain the protocols and original intent/spirit in tact. In fact, the team gets attached to the protocols. Over time, as new members enter the team with a old ones leaving it, there will be attempt to question the original protocols in the new context. Still the continuing old members try to keep up the traditions. Sooner or later, the tasks will be completed in a shorter time and even certain protocols omitted without raising any eyebrows and often without anybody noticing it. Ultimately, task is performed in a much simpler way.
When we were giving periodic compliance to management, Board, ED, etc it really used to be an ordeal. we were always on our toes meeting the deadlines for one or the other compliance out of the four sets of compliance to be sent in a month. Once the entire team was changed, my colleague took over from me and after a month or so i found that they were not sending one particular compliance which we were sending faithfully every fortnight. Shocked at it i enquired about it and the reply was they never sent such fortnightly compliance and they made the entire compliance business a monthly affair. In disbelief I was making sure if they did not get any reminders from the coordinating department attached to management. To my utter surprise and post-facto frustration, i came to know that there was no such communication from the other side and hence they standardised their own new practice. Subsequently, after several years, i found that the entire compliance business has been reduced to an insignificant and low profile routine.
A fresh team simplifies a routine task, indeed.
Yours truly
satya
