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Operations Review Template
Identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks and where your business is losing time and money

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Most businesses don’t have a strategy problem — they have an operations problem.

This template is designed to help you:

• Identify inefficiencies
• Spot bottlenecks
• Understand where time and money are being lost
• Create a clear path to improvement

✅ SECTION 1: BUSINESS OVERVIEW

☐ What does your business do?
☐ What are your core products/services?
☐ How many employees / contractors?
☐ What systems are currently in use?

✅ SECTION 2: PROCESS MAPPING

👉 Pick one core process (e.g. job delivery, order fulfilment)

☐ What are the exact steps from start to finish?
☐ Who is responsible at each step?
☐ Where are delays occurring?
☐ Where do errors occur?
☐ Where do things rely on one person?

✅ SECTION 3: BOTTLENECK IDENTIFICATION

☐ Where does work slow down?
☐ Where are tasks waiting unnecessarily?
☐ Where do approvals cause delays?
☐ What tasks take longer than they should?

✅ SECTION 4: SYSTEMS & TOOLS

☐ What software/systems are used?
☐ Are they being used properly?
☐ Are there manual workarounds?
☐ Is data duplicated across systems?
☐ Are reports reliable and timely?

👉 Poor systems = hidden cost

✅ SECTION 5: STAFF & WORKFLOW

☐ Are roles clearly defined?
☐ Are staff overloaded or underutilised?
☐ Is there duplication of work?
☐ Are tasks assigned based on skill or habit?
☐ Are staff waiting on others to proceed?

✅ SECTION 6: TIME & ATTENDANCE (YOUR EDGE)

☐ Are staff hours accurately tracked?
☐ Are there discrepancies in payroll?
☐ Are timesheets manual or automated?
☐ Is overtime controlled or reactive?
☐ Is there visibility of actual vs scheduled time?

👉 This is where many businesses quietly lose money.

✅ SECTION 7: COST LEAKS

☐ Where is money being wasted?
☐ Are inefficiencies increasing labour costs?
☐ Are errors leading to rework?
☐ Are systems causing unnecessary admin time?

✅ SECTION 8: DECISION MAKING

☐ Do you have accurate data to make decisions?
☐ Are reports available when needed?
☐ Are decisions reactive or planned?
☐ Do you rely on “gut feel” instead of data?

✅ SECTION 9: RISK AREAS

☐ What happens if a key person is unavailable?
☐ Are there compliance risks?
☐ Are critical processes documented?
☐ Is there dependency on outdated systems?

✅ SECTION 10: PRIORITY ACTIONS

List your top 5 improvements:

🔴 FINAL INSIGHT

Most operational problems are not obvious until they are mapped and reviewed properly.

Small inefficiencies, repeated daily, create significant cost and frustration over time.

🚀 CTA (IMPORTANT)

Need help working through this properly?

Most businesses know something isn’t working — but aren’t sure how to fix it.

Embark Advisory works with business owners to:

• Identify issues quickly
• Implement practical solutions
• Improve efficiency and control

👉 Work With Embark
(Link to /work-with-embark)