One measure of organizational effectiveness is the shelf-life of problems. Weak organizations suffer from unsolved problems long after they’ve been identified.

A corollary would be speed to implementation. Everybody has good ideas. The best implement those ideas quickly.

A good example of this is the Golden, Colorado-based burger chain Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard.

In June 2003, industry giant McDonald’s got a clue and announced it would phase out the purchase of beef containing antibiotics and growth stimulants. They would do this by the end of 2004. For consumers that meant only 18 more months of consuming dubious beef.

In contrast, Good Times had replaced all its meat with all-natural, antibiotic free beef by the end of that same month - June 2003.

One advantage to being small is the ability to act quickly.

Good Times’ leadership recognized the power of being nimble and quick and trumped McDonald’s slug-like speed to implementation.

How quick are you?