Editor's note: Quality Digest will be hosting a webinar with EtQ on this subject on July 29th, 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern. Click here to register.

I went for a bike ride early one morning, one of those dawn rides when no one is typically around. My biggest issue was visibility. I was heading east, and the longer I rode, the higher the sun got, and the harder it was for me to see where I was going. Without visibility, I ran the risk of getting into trouble—crashing, riding dangerously, or doing something that would endanger myself or others.

Luckily, I had my really slick-looking sunglasses to help me see; in this case, they were a tool to help me navigate, and not just a fashion accessory.

In business, we see  similar situations. As we move through our operations, we need tools to help us gain visibility. Without having visibility into processes, and connecting one process to the next, we run the risk of getting into trouble—missed deadlines, bad decisions, damage to the brand or customer loyalty... it’s all part of staying in control, seeing what’s coming up, and being able to navigate effectively.

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