In my previous post I wrote about the problem with detailed maps. In this post I am going to contradict myself (why not, it’s my Substack) and write about why a map CAN be useful.
Here we go:
For an educational institution, I was thinking about a series of substantive workshops. The idea is for companies to update teachers' knowledge on a specific theme they excel in, using their latest technical tools. It’s great for the school and a golden opportunity for the company to shine, showing students and others that they take education seriously.
During a brainstorm about this proposal, I realized that a single workshop on a technical subject is a fantastic offer. “No shit, Einstein,” I hear you thinking. Rightly so. But that’s not the point.
Sure, one workshop is all fun and games. It's a nice break from the routine, a chance to learn something new and exciting. But sometimes, one workshop just isn’t enough. Complex subjects and deep skills need more than a single session. They need a series of interconnected learning experiences that build on each other, providing a comprehensive understanding and mastery.
Then I thought: what if we offer a series of workshops from different companies as a 'process'? That’s a completely different proposition. It’s no longer about a single company delivering one training session; now you have a series of trainings.
A process, then, is a series of themes that all connect to one goal; a series of topics under one overarching theme. Such a process is more than the sum of its parts; it’s a series of projects working together towards one objective.
So, we figured the offer shouldn’t be a bunch of separate companies each doing their own project, but a series of companies each taking a part of a broader program around a central theme or goal.
Internships are similar
Do you see internships as one-off projects, or are they a developmental process through which multiple students progress in various stages in your organization? And if you’re offering an internship, are all parts of the internship cycle in order? Is recruitment solid? Is onboarding smooth? Is your guidance robust, done by people who know wtf they are doing?
And when the student is done, is offboarding seamless, making the experience so delightful that they can’t wait to run to their friends, classmates and family to tell them how utterly fantastic your offering is?
Think therefore in processes, not in projects.
Think of this proces like planning a scenic route for a journey rather than simply walking a random path through the area you want a student to walk through. Each workshop is a waypoint, contributing to the overall experience and understanding. It’s more than the sum of its parts; it’s a coordinated sequence of steps collectively steering towards a unified destination.
So let’s abandon the meandering, sometimes aimless paths of random workshops and internships that all take place in the same area, but leave people wandering about in circles. Instead, design a scenic route, a meticulously planned journey that transforms our students into well-prepared professionals. This route is marked by structured milestones, each building on the last, leading to a comprehensive and interconnected grasp of their field.
It’s the map, not the territory.