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March 09, 2009

NIGO

"Not In Good Order," or NIGO, is a term often used to describe incomplete or poorly done paperwork and Messy Office applications received in an office for processing from customers or sales people in the field. 

What are the costs associated with NIGO?  They are whatever it the costs to get things which are "not in good order" into "good order?"  Administrative labor, greater long distance phone bills,slower turnover and lost opportunities (time kills sales) are examples of these costs.

One overlooked cost, and perhaps the greatest, is the opportunity cost.  When problems are created by things that are NIGO, who solves them?  Often, your "go to" people must get involved.  These are your most productive and creative people. 

When they are fixing problems, they are distracted from taking care of those things that are "in good order" and, from a sales perspective, represent good business.  In other words, they are distracted from doing what they were hired to do! 

After all, how many job descriptions state that the employee will spend 25% of their time fixing problems that shouldn't happen in the first place?

How do you fix NIGO?  With Interwoven!  Interwoven systems are systems that simply don't allow NIGO. 

Read about Interwoven and answer the questions, "How does NIGO impact my company and what would we gain from Interwoven?"

Photo on Flickr by Jeffrey Beall.

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