As this fascinating video about pavements (sidewalks) shows, one of the most critical things to think about when you design a system is ‘who it’s for’.

When you design a traffic system around cars, you get a Milton Keynes or a Slough – where pedestrians are shunted aside into shrubby, secluded footpaths that make the walk longer and make women feel unsafe.

Or you get central London, where waits at pedestrian crossings feel interminable and traffic flow frightening.

When you design for pedestrians, you get many cities in the Netherlands that are a pleasure to walk in, yet don’t exclude cars.  Or Lisbon, where narrow streets and frequent zebra crossings slow cars down to a human pace.

The same thing applies to a business.   If you decide from the start ‘who it’s for’ you’ll design it differently.

Who is your business currently designed for?   Its shareholders?  HMRC?  Your team?  Or your customers?

The good news is that a business system is easier to re-design if you change your mind.