Creating a Business Model That Allows For Scalability

[This guest post was written by business writer Adam Kinsey.]

The goal most, if not all, businesses is to grow and thrive within their marketplace and economy. For this to happen, the operations model needs to inherently possess the ability to adapt and evolve. This is often known as business scalability. As a business expands and pushes forward to new heights, the nuts and bolts of the operation have to not only withstand the change, but assist in the process.

Below are the ways that the leadership of a company small or large can better shape their structure for scalability, with the goal of increasing long-term success.

Hire multidimensional employees

A business model is only as adaptive as its employees. If a business is trying to create an environment that’s able to evolve in unison with an unpredictable economy, it needs to start with hiring multidimensional people. Those employees with one-track minds or work experience may not be an ideal fit in 2013, for any business.

While each hire won’t be a home run, it’s imperative to hold high standards during the process of acquiring new workers. A tool is only as efficient as the person using it, and in the modern world efficiency is king when it comes to business success. Some quick advice to help leaders in the hiring process when seeking individuals who can contribute to an evolving company:

• Thoroughly explain what the person’s role would be in the interview, where it came from and where it could go. It’s impossible to define this with certainty, but a prospective employee should know what it means to be hired in an economy where roles change and customer demands continually increase.
• Properly gauge the skills that a person has that wouldn’t be expected of the listed role. For example, if the job posting was for a data modeler position that manages the company’s batch processing, see if they know how to write. After all, the conclusions that are deciphered and communicated in written form throughout a company may be more important than the actual daily tasks required of a traditional data modeler.
• See whether the person has a desire to innovate and get the creative juices flowing. Regardless of what role they’re applying for, this is huge in 2013.

Acquire all-encompassing technology

The days of surviving a business endeavor with less-than-ideal technology are so far in the past that the concept is nearly humorous. A business can’t legitimately compete in any sort of serious marketplace without topnotch internet, software and hardware. Technology not only keeps a company within striking distance of the competition, but presents it with an opportunity to dominate a niche and truly satisfy customers.

Efficiency is more important than it’s ever been where business is concerned. Businesses have always been able to please customers, but the expectations that clients and buyers have today are unprecedented. Whether a business decides to focus more attention on software development or another form of business tech, it’s all significant.

If a business has to outsource data management or enlist cloud services specifically to allow growth, so be it. Regardless of how it’s handled, appropriate technology is more than necessary right now.

Establish universal training methods

As businesses grow, more employees are needed to hold up a larger operations model. This naturally means that people are brought into the system. Training is utilized to integrate new employees, and for a business to expand in sync with market demands, these people need to be trained in a way that prepares them both for what they’re walking into and what they will find down the road. The training should also be completely universal to mitigate any potential gaps in knowledge or production.

A business that experiences noticeable drop-off from one employee to the new one won’t have the longevity to trump competition and keep up in the race. Training methods, while they vary with each and every company, should be universal across the operation and include future planning and talking points.

Scalability is the power to adapt and grow in a changing environment. Hiring multidimensional employees, acquiring all-encompassing technology and establishing universal training methods are three steps in the right direction. From there, it’s up to you and your customers.

Adam Kinsey writes about business technology and our changing economy.

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