Lean from Nature

Biological Concepts Behind

Outsourcing

Dr. S. Paulraj, Ph. D.,

( paulrajifs@gmail.com )

Nature is the Best Teacher

Nature is a best teacher and Judge in deciding which is correct, viable, cost-effective, easy and for long time survival.

The Natural Selection process took millions of years to arrive at a solution. Therefore, what we see in nature now, are time tested and survive till today

Nature is the Best Teacher

Man may pickup solution for his problems by deeply studying the facts of Nature.

Such solution may be simple but, effective as, they have been in existence for thousands of years.

Man may find out the right things that that are happening in his daily life: Friendship, marriage partner selection, problem solving, love, defense, work culture, business and so on…

The Nature’s way of Outsourcing

Principles of Nature’s OutsourcingIf you see a plant closely, a tree or a herb, you may likely to see some

organisms – mostly some insects such as, bees, ants, bugs, flies, spiders etc.

They may have some association with the plant.Such association may be temporary, semi-permanent or permanent.Such association may be mutualism, commensalism, parasitism or

symbiosis.

In Nature, Mutualism type Symbiotic relationship* is a sort of outsourcing developed between two different

expertise species.

* Definition of Mutualism type of Symbiosis: A prolonged relationship developed and existing between two different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other.

Principles behind Business Outsourcing

All works (core work and supportive works) can not be taken up effectively by one man or by a limited set-up.

Equal expertise in several functions may not be available in one man or in an organization.

Core work needs higher expertise than supportive works. A supportive work of an organization may be a core work of another

organization. For a better growth, more attention has to be paid on the core work. Supportive works should not affect the core work’s performance. Supportive works may be done by outsourcing in cost-effective way. Supportive works may be done by outsourcing in a better quality. Outsourcing the Supportive works leads to time saving.

Symbiosis and Outsourcing

The Acacia and the Ant

Facts and Lessons from Nature

•Acacias are mostly thorny tree species and among them the bullhorn acacia is characteristic for its thorns that are looking like bull’s horns.

•Unlike most Acacias, the Bullhorn acacia lacks the bitter alkaloid which would normally protect the tree from attack insects or grazing livestock.

•Alkaloids are complex protein compounds that are synthesized by many other plants.

•Producing such a compound, the plant has to invest more energy and raw materials.

•In the plant’s life, these alkaloids are not much useful except, for using it for its limited protection and may not have much reproduction value of the tree.

•This plant produce some special structures called Beltain bodies, at the tips of their leaflets.

•The core activity of the plant is reproduction and successful propagation of its offspring.

•Physical protection / defense is not the core activity of the plant as, mere existence without reproduction has no survival value.

The Acacia tree

The Ant

There are some species of ants that adopted for arboreal life.

They get food and Shelter from the host plant.

They developed symbiotic relationship with the host plant by providing protection against browsing animals and other insect pests.

One such ant species developed the symbiotic relationship with this Bull-horn Acacia tree.

Natural Principles of Outsourcing behind the relationship between

the Tree and the Ant

The Facts and the Lessons

Fact

This plant is very successful in the production of its offspring (its core activity) by spending more of its own resources for the core activity.

Whereas, this plant invests less of its own resources for its defense. Self-defense is not its core activity but, a supporting activity.

Lesson: 1

Concentrate on core activity and avoid spending

more energy for non-core activities

FACT

This tree’s big horn-like thorns give protection against the browsing animals.

Even then, animals like Giraffe could brows and harm the tree in spite of the strong thorns. Thus, the tree does not develop sufficient expertise in its protection.

Ants are known for their aggressive defense strategies and will not allow even bigger and stronger enemies. They developed better expertise in defense strategies.

Therefore, this tree employs (outsourcing) ants for its protection as, their thorns are not effective for their protection.

Lesson: 2

The real reason for outsourcing lies in the quest for finding people who can do the work better than you can.

Fact

Ants need only a smaller shelter and lesser food. The tree provides food by producing protein-lipid nodules

called Beltain bodies, at the tips of their leaflets as a source nutritive food. This is more cost-effective than producing large quantities of complex protein like alkaloids.

The tree’s succulent hallow thorns, already existing, provide shelter to the ants incidentally. Hence, there is no additional input for providing shelter to the ants

Thus, the plant provides a less ‘expensive’ (but most preferred) food and offers shelter with out any additional efforts.

Lesson: 3

One of the main objectives for outsourcing is cost cutting or cheap labour.

Fact

The energy or the input conserved by avoiding production of complex alkaloids, is made use

for higher reproductive rate – the core activity of the plant.

Lesson: 4

By outsourcing you can now concentrate your time and resources on the core priorities and strategic initiatives so as to manage the business efficiently.

Fact

The ants secrete pheromones that are deterrent to other damage causing insects to the tree.

In addition, the ants are capable of a nasty sting which acts as an additional deterrent.

Thus, the ants provide maximum service to the tree (employer) by their specialization.

Lesson: 5

Outsourcing delivers rich gains and maximum efficiency from expertise.

Fact

The relationship developed between the tree and the ant is mutual and permanent and no way harmful to each other.

The ant is no way harmful to other agencies that are helping the plant in the core-activity – the reproduction. For example, the honey bees, that are visiting the plant and helpful for cross-pollination, are not deterred by the ants.

In the same way, the plant provide not only good shelter but also, a nutritious food to the Ants.

Lesson: 6

The success of outsourcing will depend on the establishment of a working partnership that is compatible, satisfactory and based on a mutual understanding of needs.

Learn many more lessons from Nature

Thank you……