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Many people don’t understand how the theory of evolution works. There is this notion that change somehow just occurs naturally over the course of geological time. What some fail to grasp is that change does not simply happen. It occurs because there is some external pressure that forces adaptation…
When was the last time a colleague said something so ridiculous that it made your jaw drop? Perhaps a desk mate went into something political, claiming that George Bush is behind 9/11 or that Barack Obama is a Muslim from Kenya? Or maybe your boss voiced science denialism, arguing that the Earth…
Google might be in trouble for collecting the personal data of its users, but many companies have a growing incentive to rid their hands of the data that users entrust them with. This is because of growing costs of holding onto it.
A major cause is the rising number of cyber attacks where hackers…
Google might be in trouble for collecting the personal data of its users, but many companies have a growing incentive to rid their hands of the data that users entrust them with. This is because of growing costs of holding onto it.
A major cause is the rising number of cyber attacks where hackers…
On Tuesdays I write about the top-voted question on “Ask Berkun.” This week’s question came from J.R., who wrote: “What is a favorite theory that you wish more people understood?”
A favorite theory that I wish was more well-known is the Satir Change Model. It’s popular in some circles, but often…
Why is employee engagement at an all-time low? Why is turnover as high as it is? Why are employees constantly looking for better opportunities?
Think about those questions, along with what I wrote in my column, “Employee Engagement: A Confluence of Passion and Purpose”: “...engagement comes from…
Studio photographers may be familiar with the 1,000-watt quartz halogen lamps known as “FELs.” Scientists use them, too—specially calibrated ones, at least—to test the performance of light sensors that monitor Earth’s weather, plant life, and oceans, often from space.
A researcher at the National…
Focusing on metrics is key to achieving your desired business results—but it can be difficult to determine which metrics actually matter. There are five major questions you need to answer to ensure the metrics you’re measuring matter and you can take action based upon what they tell you.
Some…
Speaking at the 2003 Shingo Conference, Guy Briggs, general manager of North American operations for General Motors lamented, “We spent the 1980s ‘counting robots’ before we realized that it’s people that make the difference in our business.”
He was alluding to the thirty-five billion (yes,…
Regulatory experts from around the world, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gathered recently to discuss issues such as regenerative medical products, international collaboration to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and developing strategies to combat substandard or falsified…
Regulatory experts from around the world, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gathered recently to discuss issues such as regenerative medical products, international collaboration to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and developing strategies to combat substandard or falsified…
Regulatory experts from around the world, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gathered recently to discuss issues such as regenerative medical products, international collaboration to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and developing strategies to combat substandard or falsified…
(BEA Lasers: Elk Grove Village, IL) -- BEA Lasers, a manufacturer of rugged laser modules and assemblies, introduces two new additions to their MIL Series of Laser Diode Modules for alignment applications.
Both new MIL RA Alignment Modules feature a low profile 3/8 in. rugged laser housing, fitted…
(Acu-Gage: Hudson, NH) -- Acu-Gage Systems has been awarded Patent No. 10,088,304 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its ACU-THIK precision thickness measuring system. All 21 patent claims were approved readily because there is no other machine available that can match ACU-THIK for thin…
(The L.S. Starrett Company: Athol, MA) -- The L.S. Starrett Company, a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems, and more, has introduced its AV450 Automatic Vision System. Versatile, accurate, fast, and American made, the new three-axis vision system…
I loved my Honda. Is it OK to cling to that emotion, even after a car takes its final drive and lands in a dissection yard to be pulled to pieces so other old Hondas can stay on the road? Are there counselors out there specializing in car grief who might advise? ’Tis the Christmas season, so I can…
Among the most significant qualities demonstrated by effective leaders is the ability to make meaning of their experiences by interpreting the deeper insights that can be gained from daily interactions in the workplace, especially when times are challenging.
This reflective quality is like a…
For the last 30 years, NIST and the Department of Commerce, together with the President of the United States, have been recognizing the nation’s most outstanding organizations with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
It was my privilege on Nov. 15, 2017, to join Secretary of Commerce…
What would you say about a system that improves performance but is disliked by a significant percentage of those participating in it? Conventional organizational hierarchy may be just such a system. Yet plenty of theorists—including, at times, ourselves—have concentrated on explaining the…
People are always asking us for help with ways to prioritize. Almost everyone believes prioritization to be an action in and of itself. They ask, “What mechanisms do you use to prioritize?” However, we find most often that prioritization issues, like trust issues, are a symptom of deeper problems…
As leaders face the most volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous business conditions ever, one thing is clear: Talent is an organization’s most powerful and sustainable competitive advantage.
As a result, improving the talent pipeline by attracting, developing, and retaining the best possible…
Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) is an important process for your medical device company. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states in its Quality System Inspection Technique (QSIT) guide, “One of the most important quality system elements is the corrective and preventive…
Start a social media conversation thread about mentoring, and the replies from those in the working world will get your attention. At the summary level, the responses are remarkably similar across geographies, types of business, professions, genders, age, and years of experience.
Professionals…
I was leading an innovation workshop recently with a company that invited some of its customers to talk about the future. We were interested in getting feedback from key B2B customers about the future of the industry, where things were heading, and what strategies and programs my customer should…
Last Friday’s episode of QDL was our final show of the year, and we’re leaving 2017 on a high note! We brought you two great interviews and a terrific Tech Corner, not to mention some advice on increasing your productivity in 2018. Let’s take a look:
“AIAG and VDA Release Draft of Harmonized FMEA…
