1.0 Time

The single-most important factor that influences the shape of business is Time. Time is the unstoppable force that all other rules have to play by. We cannot control Time - we can only manage activities within the constraints of time.

To understand how a business manages its activities as an integrated system, we introduce three basic concepts:

1.1 Flow Principles - Since time is a continuous flow, we can manage the flow of activities in a way that utilizes time in an optimal way. (The most visible aspect of flow in a business is its supply chain.)

1.2 Critical Links - For a manufacturing business, the most important set of activities are the relationships between the flows of money, customers, products, and assets. How well we manage these critical links directly impact its money-making ability.

1.3 Time Scale - While time flows at a constant, unchanging rate, activities need to be orchestrated at the right time scale. For example, do the activities need to be orchestrated second-by-second? Minute-to-minute? Hourly? Daily? Weekly? Quarterly?

2.0 Orchestration Envelopes

Any set of related activities within a specific time frame can be thought of as an "orchestration envelope."

2.1