The integrator's role in owning the business operating system

Executive overview

Every business runs on an operating system — the shared vision, processes, and language that define how work gets done. Mixing pieces from multiple systems creates complexity and confusion. Pick one, commit to it, and master it.

The integrator owns and drives the operating system across the entire organisation. Their job is to cascade it level by level until every employee understands and follows it.

The operating system only works if every person in the company genuinely embraces it.

Choosing and committing to one operating system

• Mixing elements from multiple systems breaks down quickly, even around shared language
• A term can mean different things in different systems, causing confusion
• Simplicity requires picking one system and mastering it fully

The integrator's operating system responsibilities

• The integrator owns the operating system for the company
• Ensures everyone consistently adheres to core processes
• Cascades the system level by level down the organisation
• Each level learns it, then teaches it to the next
• Monitors that all people are truly executing in alignment with the system

Rolling out EOS across the organisation

• Driving an operating system company-wide takes sustained time and energy
• What the Heck is EOS (Wickman & Bauer) helps employees understand EOS quickly
• Written to be accessible — helps employees see how they fit into the bigger picture
• Having all staff read it makes the integrator's rollout job significantly easier