BSET Academy Blog – March 2025
This month we would like to share some work from a second-year student, Zoey Thompson. All BSET Academy students now do Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures (EBV) as part of their course work. The task was to write a blog on business systematization. More work from the second years and their EBV progress will be shared in future BSET Academy Blogs,
The Art of Business Systemization: Lessons from Nature’s Most Elegant System – The Horse
Ever watched a horse gallop across a field? It’s a stunning display of natural systems working in perfect harmony. But what if I told you that your business could run with the same seamless grace?
When a horse breaks into a gallop, its respiratory rate automatically increases, heart output elevates, muscles consume more oxygen, and its body begins cooling through sweat – all without a single conscious thought. This incredible coordination happens through well-developed, interconnected systems that have evolved over millions of years. Your business can achieve similar levels of efficiency, albeit with a bit more intentional design.
Systemization isn’t just about creating procedures – it’s about building an organizational framework where every component works together seamlessly, just like the systems in a horse’s body. When done right, business systemization eliminates confusion, reduces errors, and creates predictable outcomes.
Let’s break down some key parallels:
Just as a horse’s circulatory system efficiently distributes resources throughout its body, your business needs clear channels for information and resource flow. Raw materials (or information) enter the system, each department adds value in its unique way, and the final product emerges ready for market consumption. This systematic approach ensures consistency and quality at every stage.
Consider the horse’s nervous system – a central command center coordinating responses across the entire body. In your business, this mirrors your leadership structure and decision-making processes. Clear hierarchies and well-defined decision-making protocols ensure quick responses to both opportunities and challenges, just like a horse’s instantaneous reaction to environmental changes.
The horse’s digestive system, with its specialized organs working in sequence, perfectly demonstrates how different departments should process work. McGowan’s research (2008) shows how each biological system contributes to the horse’s overall performance, much like how each business department contributes to organizational success.
Some business owners resist systemization, viewing it as extra work in an already packed schedule. However, this is like a horse refusing to develop its muscular system because running takes too much energy. Hodgson and Rose (1994) demonstrate how even the most complex biological systems require consistent maintenance and development. The initial investment in creating systems pays off manifolds through increased efficiency, reduced errors, and scalable operations.
Kaufman (2010) emphasizes that even if you’re currently “winging it,” you’re still following some kind of process. The key is making these implicit processes explicit. By documenting and analyzing your current workflows, you can identify bottlenecks, eliminate redundancies, and optimize operations. Remember, effective systems are the lifeblood of your business. They allow you to:
- Create consistent, high-quality products or services
- Market effectively through repeatable processes
- Sell efficiently with standardized procedures
- Deliver reliably using systematic approaches
Just as a horse’s systems must work together during exercise – increasing respiration, elevating heart rate, engaging muscles – your business systems should synchronize during periods of high activity. This coordination ensures peak performance without strain or breakdown.
The beauty of systemization lies in its iterative nature. Like a horse’s body constantly adapting to new conditions, your business systems should evolve based on performance data and changing market conditions. Regular system reviews and updates maintain your competitive advantage.
Creating effective business systems might feel daunting but remember – even the most complex biological system in a horse started with simple building blocks that evolved over time. Start with your core processes, document them clearly, and gradually expand your systemization efforts across the organization.
In conclusion, let your business take inspiration from the horse – nature’s perfect example of systemization. Build your organizational systems with the same attention to detail and interconnectedness that allows a half-ton animal to move with grace and power. When all your business systems work in harmony, you’ll find your organization running as smoothly as a horse in full gallop, efficient and unstoppable.
References
Gerber, M. E. (2004). The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It. HarperCollins.
Hodgson, D. R., & Rose, R. J. (1994). The Athletic Horse: Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine. W.B. Saunders Company.
Kaufman, J. (2010). The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business. Portfolio/Penguin.
McGowan, C. (2008). Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse. Wiley-Blackwell.