Do you see your restaurant as a mere litany of tasks or as a singular whole? If you see your restaurant as simply a collection of tasks to complete, you're likely stressed, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to focus on next. This is why you must learn to see your restaurant as a system.

A system is defined as two or more interconnected parts working together to achieve a common objective. We need to see our restaurants not just as isolated functions, but as the sum of interdependent parts.

In order to understand an organization as a system, you have to follow the flow of materials or the flow of information. In the case of restaurants, we follow the flow of food.

So what are the interconnected parts of the restaurant system?

From the perspective of daily operations, your food begins its journey in a warehouse. So a good starting point is with your suppliers. You must acquire the food so you have your own inventory. Then you must prepare the food for service so your food is ready to make for your guests. When an order is placed, production begins. Now you have meals for your guests. The food reaches your guests through one or more channels of distribution. Through table touches, online reviews, and your key performance indicators, you get feedback on your restaurant system!

That's it! That's your restaurant as a singular whole! That's your restaurant as a system.

Do you see your restaurant as a singular whole? Beyond the concept of a system, are there other frameworks through which you might view your restaurant as an integrated whole?