The Built Brief · Sample edition
Before you add another reviewer, check what keeps coming back.
A review queue is getting longer. Everyone is busy, and the obvious response is to hire. But if reviewers keep receiving incomplete work, another person inherits the same problem.
Start by separating two questions: how much work is arriving, and how much of it is ready to finish?
A useful check this week
Take a recent set of items from one workflow. Include the ones still waiting. For each item, record whether it passed its first review, why it came back and how much time the reviewer spent correcting it.
If missing inputs explain the repeat work, test a readiness check before the queue. If complete work still waits, look at reviewer capacity and the mix of work. Those findings lead to different decisions, which is why the cause matters before the headcount.
What changed for one accounting firm
We cut returns sent back from first review from 40% to 11%, so their tax workflow completed 20% more returns each week. Their leaders confirmed a $1.5M increase in recurring profits.
Read the accounting case study ↗
Your next step: choose one review point and find the most common reason work comes back. That gives you something concrete to test.