Operations Design and The Lord’s Prayer
Is there an intersection of faith and an organization’s process for decision making
The fountainhead of an organization’s culture is its operating system (OS). This is especially true for relationally driven systems such as hospitality, food service, non-profits, etc. The way a relationally driven organization operates is inseparable from its identity. So choosing an OS will have immediate and long-term consequences on organizational health.
Everyone has an OS, even if they don’t realize it. From Wall Street to Main Street, an OS often develops as a product of the leader’s philosophy and experience. Which means in most cases the OS is chosen by accident. We see this in classic phrases like: “It’s just how we do things” or “that’s not the (company name) way.”
Planned or unplanned, these systems are not fixed. The complications of life influence our systems on a daily basis. When left ungoverned, systems will evolve beyond comprehension. This is illustrated in the social game “telephone” where a phrase is passed via whisper through a group. The process distorts the phrase from its origin. Without clarity, an OS will distort in a similar manner. Organizationally this is described as mission drift.
Identifying your OS helps prevent mission drift. While there is a broad range of options, most OS stem from two contrasting approaches: *
Step by Step (SBS): Technical Process Focused
Top Down (TD): Goal Centered (aka: assessment based or object orientation)
In theory these two share the same problem, but the decision-making process is fundamentally different. SBS begins with the problem and works forward. TD begins with the goal and works backward. The differentiation is illustrated below.
SBS - increased number of variables
TD - the shortest path of essential steps
*Gibson, John. 2017. How To Do Systems Analysis. John Whiley and Sons, Inc.
If “keeping your options open” is preferred, then SBS is the way to go. But you better buckle up because the possibilities are endless! As an alternative, with TD we discover the preferred route by clarifying success and working backwards to the problem. This second option works great when pursuing industry accolades such as: Michelin stars, James Beard, JD Power, etc..
Can this apply it to our spiritual life? Yes. Doing so with SBS is fairly common. Especially when we centralize our spiritual journey on our needs or wants. However, if our spiritual journey begins with “truth”, then the process shifts to TD. We must pause and ask ”Is there a fixed absolute truth?” If no, then cast your bread upon the waters of SBS. If yes, then “truth” (rather than experience) should be our starting point.
In a Christian worldview, the Gospel is the fixed truth and faith is the OS. This is illustrated below in Jesus’ framework for talking with God.
The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13
Everybody has temptation. If we believe a morality exist, then resisting that temptation is good. But to what end? If the goal is just avoidance, then we have a wide range of options and SBS is our playground. However, if the goal is to grow in the truth of the gospel, then our choices narrow. Consider the two alternatives:
SBS Option: I am tempted to yell at my spouse. As an alternative I can: leave, drive fast, drink alcohol, exercise, ask questions, serve, be passive, ridicule, etc. Some of these appear productive and some don’t. Each step leads to a new set of variables.
TD option: I am tempted to yell at my spouse. As an alternative I can: consider how the love from my Father in Heaven should impact my temptation to yell.
Of course we should avoid yelling at our spouse. But if our OS is the Lord’s Prayer then my primary concern is not avoiding anger, but embracing sonship (a theology of God as Father). Both SBS and TD accomplish the same immediate result. But who cares about not yelling if ridicule is the result. In a TD OS where you are going will govern what you do, but the reverse is not a given in a SBS OS.
The final thread is the intersection of the two. Can the truths of the Lord’s Prayer influence our bookkeeping, sales goals, hiring process, point of sale system, HOA, civic engagement, political view, etc.? YES! In fact, it is more than plausible, it is essential. Spiritual growth is not about behavior modification, but learning to submit to our divine calling in ALL areas of life. That divine calling begins with “Our Father”.