Justin Blake: An Entrepreneur Dedicated to Operational Excellence
Attaining business success can be just as hard as making change. Just ask Justin Blake, the founder of the Operational Excellence & Design Management Group (OEDM Group), a small business management consulting firm providing process improvement expertise across various operational functions such as Business Operations, IT, Cyber Security, and Statistical Performance Management.
Recently embarking on Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) accreditation efforts (a cybersecurity maturity mandate issued by the Department of Defense), Justin Blake is coming face to face with meeting challenges that can come with change. Change that has been requiring a lot of work and work that will provide the OEDM Group an insurmountable amount of success. The CMMC is a vital assessment to evaluate small businesses. Attaining a high-level CMMC accreditation is a signal for companies to meet the DoD’s core objectives regarding cybersecurity. This makes a huge difference when it comes to being competitive for government contracts.
I got to sit down with this ambitious visionary and pick his brain about what operational excellence looks like when making changes and discuss the benefit of government contracts for small businesses.
Dr. G.: You used to work as a strategic advisor for a small business. What did you learn from this business that helped you better understand the ins and outs of success for your business?
Justin: Understanding and knowing the highs and lows of taking risks to become successful, such as finances, competition, supply & demand, and the path to execute, is an ongoing challenge that is never taken lightly or forgotten to assess.
Dr. G.: You are a change agent. Why is it essential for businesses to reevaluate the processes every few years?
Justin: We, at OEDM Group, develop the right processes based on data to ensure that your entire company is running as efficiently as possible, so you will be able to effectively adapt to change. We guide organizations through a series of questions to identify, sequence, and implement the changes and actions that will put your business on a trajectory toward sustained value creation.
We ensure that your organization will begin to be managed by insight through a series of step-by-step processes. Our deep and rich experience in both the private and public sectors will provide clients a broad horizon on cutting-edge solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of organizations conducting business in the current economic climate.
Dr. G.: So, when it comes to process and change management, what are three areas most companies should focus on?
Justin: The three areas most companies should focus on are time, capability, and capital.
Time management helps organizations finish work within the allotted time and stay stress-free and relaxed throughout the day. In addition, time management helps an organization plan specific time slots for daily tasks at the workplace.
Capability refers to the knowledge and skills acquired that can be utilized through partnerships and mentorships within a business. It would be in your best interest to entertain and invest in opportunities related to the business.
Capital is a premier factor in business creation and development. A business realizes that its focus will require capital to get started. Profitable wealth-building strategies demand a focus on capital preservation and appreciation over a short and long investment horizon if any business development opportunity fits a firm’s success criteria.
Dr. G.: The OEDM Group is big on government contracting (which also is how you sustain your business). Why do you think so many people are intimidated to get them (especially since there is so much money out there for services to provide to the govt)?
Justin: Obtaining a government contract could be a bit challenging, but not impossible. The importance of understanding the scope of work would be to first. Secondly, it is important to understand the scope of what is required. Thirdly, understand laws that require competition among small businesses before the contract is awarded.
Overall, a small business may compete with other businesses, which could be intimidating from the standpoint of making sure a business is at its finest. A small business must study the requirements for government contracting and conduct market research before deciding to enter the government sector.
Dr. G.: I am sure this will help many small businesses.
For more information or to connect with Justin Blake and the OEDM Group:
justin.blake@oedmgroup.com
Instagram: @justindevblake
