- Where do we use this mode?
- Cruise mode is where everything is certain & stable. In this mode, rate of progress is determined by the plan or process.
- The essence of cruise mode is to become self-organizing & self-managing in nature.
- We know what to do – We are operating in known boundaries of knowledge. We have already done it in the past and are repeating it.
- We have all the necessary resources & are going to face all the normal difficulties that any project faces.
- Utilize all available resources and capabilities to the full.
- During cruise mode, we are operating to achieve benchmarks. There needs to be continuous improvement during cruise mode.
- Your attention bandwidth can come down and become wider. You can look at other parameters. (While in stretch mode, you are pushed, it occupies your attention fully).
- Cruise Mode should not be equated with a ‘comfort-seeking mode’ or a ‘time-pass mode’ Cruise Mode has an element of stretch inbuilt compared to what people usually see as cruise mode (which could be comfort zone) .
- This mode is also to be used for building & developing new people.
- Cruise Mode is the go-to mode in E&P. Ideally, 70% of projects should be in Cruise Mode, while the remaining projects can be in other modes.
- What kind of work methods are to be used for this mode?
- Setting benchmarks for the project to remain in cruise mode
- Strong visualization of execution scenarios early on in the project to ensure things move in cruise mode during the course of the project.
- Identify the right ‘outcome-owning’ people take charge of specific project outcomes
- Set expectations for resources and handshake on them
- There needs to be continuous knowledge capturing & sharing it across the system
- What are the expectations from leaders in this mode?
- Creating and supporting self-managed teams
- Strengthen institutional systems
- Formally develop individuals
- Using available knowledge and resources effectively
- What kind of team environment do you need?
- Total clarity of role & contributions
- Role ownership
- Systematic development
- What measures do we use?
- Find early warning signals / symptoms of potential variation from cruise mode through strong control and MIS systems (sensors – to look for variances) with analytics.
- Ensure that flashpoints and variances are mapped and analysis is carried out to enable people.
- Improvement Review with each stakeholder partner to improve way of working between them.
- Observations
Currently, no projects are operating in cruise mode because all the teams are operating with a half-functional orientation and half-project outcome orientation.
While the expectation is that all the enablers are operating with project outcomes in mind, they are not. This is why there is need for structural re-design of the roles to ensure that everyone can deliver and operate in cruise mode. As long as project manager is trying to do everything by himself and others are not taking ownership then how can the project be in cruise mode? It will always slip into a stretch mode.
- Significance of Cruise Mode for evolution
In human history, because our body moved into homeostasis, the cognition could improve. Monks for example, lead externally very stable lives, as a result there is space to internally evolve on other dimensions.
Similarly, when the people are developing themselves on other dimensions which are important for the long term success of the organization – e.g. learning and documentation, building internal self-esteem, capability building, diversifying capability sets (e.g. sending them for training program, etc.), cruise mode can be used as the playing ground.
If we are always in stretch mode, we will not have the space to grow on other dimensions. New thinking, which requires depth of thought will not take place.
Therefore, cruise mode is not needed because human beings need comfort. Cruise mode is needed because you need to evolve on other dimensions other than meeting external goals.
Cruise mode should be used well and should not get wasted by seeing that as the target mode.