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why why
My experiences are that Marketing and Sales types tend to Skew date to their benefit. Where as Finance presents data according to the organizations structure.
I think Leslie is tryng to make the case that financial needs to be more widely available, more timely and more dynamic.
My experience of the point aqbove is that everyone uses data to support their perspectives on the wolrd (just look at politicians!) and usually finance are the most objective, hence I prefer their take on the data.
There is an argument for 'democratising' the access the data in the organisation but its not just about trending data, its about providing 'just enough' detail at an exception level, continuously, consistently and completely
Interested to see where the second part of this article goes . . .
Maybe it's your approach and attitude
Leslie,
Your article would indicate that you have had numerous bad experiences with Finance Departments and or run ins with many finance leaders, which is sad but surprising that it should lead a person of your apparent background (Lean Specialist) to come to such a conclusion without providing empirical research data to support your prognosis that somehow finance people in general are universally secretive. I know I could be accused of showing bias here as I am an accounting professional but in my experience (over 30 years across a variety of industries) I cannot reconcile your thought process with the one that is sacred to your cause. i.e. finding the root cause and putting in sustainable and permanent corrective actions but in doing so do not confuse symptoms with cause. You have either only experienced a lot of closed minded finance professionals or are extrapolating from a small sample and reaching an inaccurate conclusion. Believe me, we accountants are not all the same.
If what you are trying to do with this article and series of articles is to highlight and create debate on the poor levels of intelligent data gathering, its presentation and practical use as it would apply to any given scenario I would wholeheartedly agree with you, but would argue that it is a universal problem in business and life in general and far from being the sole domain of Finance or even endemic as you suggest.
The answer lies in striking a sensible balance which will be different in each circumstance. Some situations may require more detailed analysis or checks than others but what Businesses and people start with is either too little or too much. Or worse still no clue or understanding why they are doing it. Your article suggests you are experiencing the too little and too confusing line but not clear enough to suggest you understand the consequences of too much or inappropriate.
In terms of too little the typical causes surround, naivety, inexperience, low awareness, secrecy, poor systems, badly designed systems, poor processes, badly designed processes, laziness, too much success, lack of competition, too big, and familiarity (you need to have worked in this industry to get a job here stupidity). Conversely some of the same causes can result in too much data/information and as examples I would add over-thinking the problem, too much enthusiasm, poorly guided, absence of logic & structure.
Too much data/information can be just as destructive as too little as last week's trouble so eloquently displayed. The Police were slow to speak with the bereaved family and even when they did were guarded in their explanation. The looters spread their messages by social media many of which no doubt were fuelled by rumours and speculation. And even this week we have Shell downplaying the oil spill which has now unsurprisingly got bigger. Some serious chaos and in both cases not an accountant in sight!
There are two sayings that a fond mentor of mine (an engineer by the way) would quote
1. Paralysis by Analysis
2. With Confusion there's opportunity
If people do manage to reach a sensible balance they then need to decide priorities format, structure, reconciliation and meaning which is a whole subject on its own so I will not go there suffice to say that if you are dealing with closed minds your screwed and if I were you I would leave them to their fate. But I would argue you have been unlucky as the majority of accountants I believe just do as the majority of employees do and that is try and do their best and will be more than happy to make compromises and adjustments assuming the logic is sound. If you actually create and promote the proper environment people will naturally find the most efficient method. It takes a lot of courage and faith and more often than not it is usually the longest fix but generated the biggest return. I would also argue that Finance are equally the ones promoting change and improvement. I could also quote you numerous examples where operational and commercial people claim to have made savings or generated profits in excess of any sensible monetary level and not even had the common sense to sanity check their conclusions nor the decency to involve the finance department. But I have never made a rant out of it. Just simply agreed to sit down and go through it logically and if it points to an improvement needed on my part I go and make it happen as I would expect of them. Honour and respect they call it.
When you do come across an accountant who you suspect of being secretive on data that is not inherently personal such as payroll where he or she may be entitled to restrict access then you have to be patient and find another way. Start by making sure they are part of the project and hence will share in the success and if they are not in possession of at least a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate insist that they are trained. Unfortunately one business function can bullshit just as much as another so other than complaining to their boss, you just need to get creative if finance become a bottle neck. Unfortunately you may need to know your way around a finance department and have the ability to rationalise and reconcile the missing bits. It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Complete it bit by bit and just keep taking away the excuses and they will have no where to go and peer pressure will take care of the rest. I am not sure how much accountancy experience you have but if I were you I would seek out some training or guidance you can rely on. And a word of warning if you are in a business and the finance department especially the accounts payable department looks as if a bomb has hit it then if you do stick around insist that you are paid either upfront or paid within 7 days.
And yes in the same vein Accountants should be looking at the techniques surrounding continuous improvement and changes in the environment such as the rise of technology social media etc. I am an accountant but I hold a Six Sigma Yellow Belt which no one told me or even suggested to me to get. I recognised a gap and filled it. I do not need to be an expert but it helps. I also possess a passion for IT and all bits that go with it. Again I am no expert but I have a level of understanding that helps and I have always been the mover and shaker in that regard in any company I have been in.
I also detect a level of frustration on your part towards my profession and to be fair I share the same feelings at times probably even worse as I know how it can be and should be but at times it is probably not any better in yours.
If you adopt the right empathic, patient and logical approach you will be successful either directly with the bottleneck person or through others.
I will end by suggesting that rather than come on here and have go at Accountants (which may have been your intention in some perverse notion that it was your idea of a professional way to deal with this subject) just simply pose the question
Are accountants through their methods of collection, recording, analysis and favoured distribution channels providing the necessary transparency to key business activities so that users can easily understand and make use of to improve those activities?
or more usefully post this question on every profession's website including your own and ask
Are you as an individual or as part of your various groups and networks doing the best you can to the best of your ability at all times and helping others to do their best all in a manner that promotes, empathy, understanding, transparency and support in accordance with acceptable moral behaviour.
If you are going to blog and level criticism on a specific group of people about sharing information pick on the ones who we all know cannot truthfully answer Yes to the second question.
regards
Alastair Murdoch FCMA
I totally concur with Alistair, I have worked both in practice and now industry, and in my experience finance actually holds the most accurate and realiable information. Unfortuately sales/marketing fail to appreciate the costs involved and are only interested in their commissions/salary payments. They have no appreciation of the other costs, such as back office support costs, tax costs, other costs.