Herding Cats, Buffalo, Geese and Information Technology

These three types of animals are very different in their makeup, and the way that they can be managed. This makeup also means that they deliver very different results.

Herding cats is a real challenge. Even though they are a common house pet, they are very difficult to control. Cats will do what they want to do, whenever they want to do it. Working with one cat is manageable. When you get a second or third or more, they are impossible. Where some animals, such as cows or buffalo, follow a common path, cats don't. They do whatever they please and when you try to exert control they scatter.

Buffalo are another matter. While much bigger and stronger, buffalo are very easy to control. They follow the leader. They don't think and choose for themselves. Before controls were established, they almost became extinct. All a hunter had to do was control the leader, and the others would follow.

Geese, on the other hand are very different. Each goose knows where it is going and what is needed to get there. They work as a team. When one tires or falters, another quickly takes over. Split them up and they continue to function, and eventually get back together. They know that their strength is in their support of each other, whether its two, five or ten. There is strength in numbers, if those numbers understand where they are going and how to get there. When a weaker member gets in the lead, they don't have to be the strongest. They can lead for a short period, yet know that another is ready to take their place.

In a business, we have cats, buffalo and geese. I have seen many organizations that function with mostly buffalo. As a result, they succeed for a while, because of the strength of their leader. But when their leader falters, they lose.

Many organizations prefer to manage buffalo, because it's much easier than trying to herd cats. But cats are free thinkers. They have ideas that can help an organization, but there is no common direction in the organization. Each cat has his own views and approach, and since there is no common goal, there is no way to measure success. Since cats are fighting the system, managers attempt to put controls on them. This succeeds in one of two things: the cats become buffalo; the cats leave the system. Both result in a loss for the business. Buffalo will become extinct, unless their system is managed for them.

The solution is to help cats become geese. This means common goals and a system for reaching those goals with the strength of each individual. What is that system? It may be slightly different for each business, but the process for achieving that goal must be understood by every individual within the business. They must know how what they do affects every other step in the process. This may sound difficult, but it isn't. It's a matter of focus.

What does this have to do with Information Technology? When you change the software in your business, you are changing the system for meeting the goal. Cats, buffalo and geese will all react differently. This is what change management specialists are trying to manage. If you don't understand what animal you are working with, you are going to have problems. No matter what you do, you can't herd cats. No matter what you do, you can't get buffalo to think and act independently.

My next post will talk about what you can do to handle a major change such as software implementation.