Playing with Someone Better Than YouNever underestimate the value of benchmarking
Mon, 11/14/2011 - 13:11
When you try to improve your athletic abilities (e.g., playing tennis, swimming), how do you go about it? There are quite a few options, including observing how those who are best-in-class perform. When we learn from others, we gain from their… Locked in Solution Thinking, Part 2Values and vision form the boundaries within which a solution can be found
Tue, 10/25/2011 - 11:44
In part one of this article, I described a rapid strategic planning session for fire-service response time, and included a comment from one of the planners that he’d like to “see a fire station on every corner.” This was a terrific starting point… Locked in Solution Thinking, Part 1Revisit the what and how of your achievements
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 14:28
During a recent strategic planning session with a county’s leadership council, the participants were asked about their vision for their departments as they worked on a template for the strategic plan. Although there were many responses, one that… Of Soup and InnovationOrganizations that allow time off from routine see their creativity and innovation quotients go up
Tue, 08/09/2011 - 12:29
Cooking is not my forte, but I try. I intended my latest concoction to be interesting, new, and easy. It was a soup, made with nontraditional ingredients, and it won rave reviews at a neighborhood potluck. No one could guess all the ingredients,… Got Customer Requirements?To clinch a deal, some businesses will promise anything, even if it’s beyond their capabilities
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 15:36
Wanting to be known for his hospitality in the neighborhood, a restaurant owner advertised take-out Thanksgiving turkey dinners, ready to go. With the holiday coming up, Joe planned to have friends over for dinner and decided to take advantage of… Pull Systems Need Push SystemsIt’s a collaborative synergy
Thu, 01/20/2011 - 05:00
The concept of “pull” gained ever more ground with the publication of Womack and Jones’ Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealthin Your Corporation. (Simon & Schuster, 1996). All this sounds terrific in theory and can be taught relatively… Lean, Six Sigma, or Strategy?Why not bundle all together?
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 19:23
A friend recently returned from a visit to China; his company had been acquired by a Chinese organization and he had gone there as part of the mutual due diligence. Not only did he come back impressed by their lower manufacturing costs but also… Service Economy! What’s Next?Are we outsourcing innovation along with everything else?
Thu, 10/21/2010 - 15:41
Our country’s focus on cost-cutting led us to move manufacturing overseas and then outsource services. It has distracted us from adopting new technology and investing in innovation. Is this a serious mistake?
For many years, publications such as… Forge AheadWhen the economy is at a standstill, it’s critical to keep moving
Thu, 09/16/2010 - 06:30
The economy is uncertain, pessimism is rife in businesses, and many are standing around waiting for things to happen. However, complacency does not send a positive message to customers, colleagues, and employees. It is also not conducive to getting… Why Victory Favors Small and Motivated CompaniesLean times call for lean strategies.
Mon, 07/19/2010 - 14:27
These days when the economy is uncertain, smaller organizations worry about survival while many larger, well-established organizations sit smugly, thinking they don’t really have much to worry about. However, some of these large, well-established…
