This is the process of doing things, and it is applicable to all kinds of activities and goals you have ever pursued and will pursue. At a very abstract level, this process can even be observed in simple actions, such as moving your hand to pick up a glass from the table to drink.
This article will view this process without the context of a specific topic or example and treat it as the flow that it is.
Where does value actually get created, and where does it usually get lost?
1. Idea
The Idea defines the direction. A bad idea can be executed perfectly but still produce an output that nobody wants. A good idea is defined as the right direction that will act as a foundation beneath the other stages of the flow, leading to the expected result.
It is defined by the expected outcome after the execution.
2. Plan
The Plan splits the direction and expected outcome into decisions you have to make to determine how to make the expected outcome possible. It also directly determines how efficiently effort is converted into progress.
3. Execution
The Execution turns the decisions made into reality. It is the process in which you work to make the expected output happen. It is built on top of your plan, and in this segment, skill, discipline, adaptation, and persistence matter. It is also one of the stages of the flow that produces the most information.
4. Output
The Output is what was actually produced through execution. It shows whether the idea and plan were successfully turned into something real.
5. Outcome
The Outcome is what happens because of the output. It produces valuable information by telling you whether the expected result was actually achieved. An output can be produced successfully while still failing to create the desired outcome.
Every stage of the process of doing is dependent on the other stages, and the weakest stage often determines the result.
Quality of Output ≈ Idea × Plan × Execution
If each factor ranges from 0 to 1, then:
1.0 idea × 1.0 plan × 0.1 execution = 0.1
1.0 idea × 0.1 plan × 1.0 execution = 0.1
0.1 idea × 1.0 plan × 1.0 execution = 0.1
