“If you can’t find it, you can’t fix it.”
This is where the magic of structure comes in.
After you’ve simplified, you’re left with a cleaner pile, but it’s still a pile. Now you need to get that pile organized, to make it easier to find the data.
It’s like data versus info: data is like coal, but information is the diamond.
The 3rd step Organize is where you turn that pile into a process:
- Clear roles
- Logical flow
- Documented ownership
- A place for everything, and everything in its place
What “Organize” really means
It’s about creating a system that works even when you’re not there. In a sense you should make yourself redundant.
You define who does what, when, and how, and it’s your job to make it visible.
Think:
- Swimlane diagrams
- RACI charts
- Process documentation
- Clear folder and naming conventions
- Consistent tools
I made another post about Excel not being the right tool for most things, in that post I talk about other tools you might use. That was before all the AI-hype, might need to update that post
How to do it without overengineering
- Assign ownership
Every step must have a clear owner. Shared responsibility means no responsibility. - Visualize the flow
Tools like Miro, Lucidchart, or even whiteboards help people see how things connect. - Create the toolbox
Centralize templates, files, and systems. No more “where’s that Excel again?” - Document just enough
Enough for clarity, not enough to put everyone to sleep.
Why it matters
Organization builds predictability.
Predictability builds trust.
And trust is what makes standardization possible in the next step.
How do you know when this step is done?
You can use the rubber duck debugging method, which I find very useful. But you can also imagine that a new hire could step in tomorrow and explaining the (new) way of working shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes
And don’t forget: organizing isn’t about control, it’s about clarity.
Previous: ASOSA Step 2 – Simplify
Next: ASOSA Step 4 – Standardize
Or return to the overview: The ASOSA Methodology