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… Business Handicaps—Improving Your GameGolf strategies can help your business.
Wed, 05/12/2010 - 09:53
Business owners get so engrossed in running their businesses that they get into a rut and wonder why they are not able to lower their “handicaps.”
Learning to lower one’s golf scores can be quite a challenging task. For most handicap players… Toyota BlinksAnd misses the quality boat
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 05:00
Toyota’s name has been plastered in the headlines providing it the publicity no organization would wish for.
Historically, Toyota had achieved a global reputation for the production of very high quality vehicles. The Toyota Production System,… Resilience in a Recovering Economy10 tips for building a more resilient culture
Thu, 10/15/2009 - 13:48
Isn't it the economy that's on everyone's minds? When will the economy pick up? Will we be able to survive until then or will we too become another company that used to exist? How do we ensure a stronger position when the economy turns around?…
