19: Torque is cheap

In the last email (subject: ​Serendippidus​), we looked at the foundations of work design. And we discussed how the workflow user (human or AI) requires:

• Context

• Instructions

• Guardrails

• Blueprints & templates

Now, one objection people might have upon seeing this list is that we can’t possibly provide this level of detail for everything we do - and they’d be right! 

But not all tasks are created equal. Meaning, the effective execution of some tasks within a workflow are more important than others.

For example, if our goal is to make a video, it’s probably more important to include the right content than to have perfect lighting. But Write the script and Set up equipment are both tasks in our workflow. And if we look at them without that extra context, they could be perceived as having the same importance - it’s just a flat list of tasks. 

But the outcome of the workflow is more dependent on great content than great video production.

So, when considering to what extent we design our work, we should triage tasks based on their importance.

And this brings us onto something I’ve been excited to discuss since we began our journey eighteen emails ago…

Until now, I’ve referred to the intentional improvement of work as ‘design’. But I believe we should be taking it one step further and referring to this as ‘engineering’. Because what we’re doing here isn’t just haphazardly tweaking things to see what works. We’re systematically improving performance. 

We’re engineering performance. 

Because if our workflows are documented, and if we know what outcomes we’re hoping for, and if we’re measuring those outcomes, then through a process of controlled experimentation, we should be able to identify how adjusting the design of a task impacts the outcome.

A bit like tuning up our car.

Now, I don't know much about cars. But having recently seen Brad Pitt star in a very clichéd Formula One movie, I can safely say a team of mechanics can fiddle with the engine and make it go faster. 

And so, we can apply the same logic to our workflows. Tasks are levers that can be pulled to improve the performance of both humans and AI.

Thus, Workflow Engineering.

Which is exactly how we’ll refer to it from now on.

Yours,
- Ant