Lessons From the Civil War

Personal reconnaissance has a place in today’s organizations

In 1862, the bloodiest battle in American history was fought on Sept. 17, and 23,000 soldiers from the North and South were killed in about 12 hours of fighting. This military “victory” for the North paved the way for Abraham Lincoln to issue the emancipation proclamation a few months later. Not 10 months later another battle occurred in Gettysburg from July 1–3, 1863, with 51,000 casualties over the three days.

This year and 2013 mark the 150th anniversary of these significant battles. My son and I have visited both battlefields. At Antietam and Gettysburg, it takes a while to just get over the amount of carnage that occurred on these hallowed grounds. I try to glean some wisdom from such historical trips.

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Comments

Genchi Genbutsu

Tripp,

Great article!!

Managing from the Ivory tower, it just doesn't work! Think of the amount of time and money wasted on miss-steps and false starts.

It is always amazing the insight one gets when time is spent at the gemba, actively observing and asking questions. Involving the people doing the work in coming up with counter measures. The level of "buy in" and sustainability is so much greater than it would be with counter measure mandated by management that is rarely, if ever, seen at the gemba.

Ya think Gen. Reynolds had buy in from his troops? My guess, Beyond Measure!

Tripp, Thanks again for the article!

Mark

The Civil War

A matter of historical reference you stated that there were 23,000 killed at Antietam. That was the number of casualties which includes killed, missing,captured and wounded. The number killed was closer to 3,700.