What comes first - Process or Purpose

Many a times organizations are in a dilemma as to what comes first between purpose and process. Now, first things first - it is purpose that precedes process. Any process is basically created with a purpose in mind and a desired goal, both of which could vary from situation to situation and organization to organization. As long as the purpose is served, even if there is an occasional detour on the processes, it should not be a cause for concern. This does not undermine the importance of process but on the other hand emphasizes the fact that purpose is at the core of any process.

To run the daily business, however small or big the same may be, managements may devise any number of processes for the sake of having a control mechanism in place and to ensure that these processes ultimately drive the business in the right and expected direction. All businesses have a purpose and that is to serve the customers. There could arise several occasions for any organization when the managements have to decide between process and purpose. If the customer is at the core of the decision, the scales obviously tilt in favor of purpose. Every business exists for a purpose/customers. 

While it is always good to have working processes or SOPs in place, no organization can sacrifice the basic purpose for which it exists, that of satisfying its customers. Let purpose prevail over process and let every process serve the purpose.