Let Discipline and Patience Enable InnovationExcuses amount to preemptive surrender
Thu, 04/18/2013 - 09:41
Innovation is at or near the center of nearly everyone’s radar screen. If you’re not looking for it in your work, you’re looking for it in your personal life, because stirring in each of us is the desire to employ our ingenuity. Thus, the potential… Step One in Cultivating an Innovation CultureStart with a single team and strike a deal up front
Tue, 03/26/2013 - 16:42
When I speak to groups or meet with prospective clients, one of the most frequently asked questions I field is: “What’s my first step in creating a culture of companywide innovation?” I love the question because I believe that innovation must occur… The Best Sushi Chef in the WorldApplying the five attributes of the artisan
Thu, 02/28/2013 - 11:49
A good friend of mine recently recommended a wonderful documentary to me: Jiro Dreams of Sushi. I now recommend it to you. It’s a phenomenal and fascinating study of a man who embodies the disciplined pursuit of perfection.
The 85-year-old Jiro… Keep It Standard, StupidConsumers want consistency, and that comes from standardization
Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:10
Iam an avid cyclist. Last year I purchased a piece of electronic equipment for my cycling habit, produced by Garmin, called the Edge 500. It’s a nifty little gizmo that I mounted on my bike’s steerer tube.
It uses GPS to track speed, routes,… Dig in with 5 WhysThis underused technique can solve problems beyond the shop floor
Wed, 01/30/2013 - 16:52
Recently I had a conversation with a friend who was upset about some directional shifts and a looming job shuffle within his company. As I listened to the lament, I recognized that the changes he described focused on the symptoms of the issue. All… Seven Targets for Lean InnovationSystematically remove anything that impedes the free flow of value to receiving party
Mon, 12/17/2012 - 16:35
In 1996, James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones popularized the term “lean thinking.” It was their expression for what they observed studying Toyota’s manufacturing operations: an absence of waste. Today, lean concepts have moved beyond the factory… Christmas Wish: Meaningful MeasurementsEngineers and consumers do not think alike
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 17:06
All I want for Christmas is a meaningful measurement. I’m tired of “technical specifications” that have no real-world application. I’m fatigued by acronyms and jargon that I can only imagine have evil engineers and masochistic technical writers in… Healthcare Kaizen: Five Questions With Mark Graban‘We have opportunities for improvement of all sizes and levels of complexity’
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 16:36
I remember when I first discovered the work of Mark Graban. The year was 2008, and I was preparing to speak to the Massachusetts Hospital Association, an audience of about 400 hospital CEOs and administrators. They wanted me to tie my work with… The ‘Less-Is-Best’ Approach to InnovationThree trends that lead to success
Mon, 11/19/2012 - 08:52
In our world of excess everything, savvy innovators realize that less is actually best. They know that delivering a memorable and meaningful experience hinges on user engagement, which is best achieved through a subtractive approach. Anything… Getting Better at Getting BetterEngineer how to practice right
Tue, 10/23/2012 - 09:39
The late, great basketball coach John Wooden maintained that, “When you improve a little bit each day, eventually big things occur. Don’t look for big, quick improvement. Instead, seek small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it…
