Understanding the balance between the food we consume and the waste we excrete offers a profound metaphor for corporate project management. This analogy not only sheds light on biological processes but also provides insights into optimizing business strategies.
Humans and animals consume food to obtain energy, but not all consumed food is utilized for energy production. A significant portion is excreted. For instance, about 45-55% of what humans eat is expelled as waste. In elephants, this figure is approximately 50% (source). This natural process highlights that not all intake is directly proportional to output, a concept that can be mirrored in business practices.
In the corporate world, similar principles apply. Companies often initiate multiple projects, knowing well that not all will succeed. The rationale behind this approach is not merely to identify the successful endeavors but also to engage various departments and foster skills through diverse challenges.
Just as our bodies excrete a significant portion of our intake, businesses might perceive certain efforts as 'waste.' However, this 'waste' can be instrumental in learning, experimenting, and eventually succeeding. It's about the journey and the incremental gains from each experience.
Both biological systems and corporate environments teach us that efficiency isn't about the absolute conversion of input into output but rather about the balance and the process. By embracing the natural inefficiency in systems, whether in digestion or in project management, we can foster environments that are resilient, adaptive, and ultimately more successful.
For further reading on management insights derived from natural processes, consider exploring "Jungle Wisdom for Corporate Management – Lessons from the University of Nature" by Swami Sukhabodhananda and Dr. S. Ranganathan, and "Nature – The Entrepreneur" also by Dr. S. Ranganathan. These texts delve deeper into how natural principles can inform and improve corporate strategies.
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