WSJ Publishes “Strategic Plans Lose Favor” and “Where Process Improvement Projects go Wrong”

How about this for a dose of reality in the new year?

Strategic Plans Lose Favor

This article makes it clear how important being agile for companies in this chaotic world.  I kind of wished this article would have been published a year ago. 

• It gives great examples of how successful companies have looked closely at the frequency of the budgeting process, and how keeping in closer tune with the voice of the customer can result in more sales. 
• The example of Office Depot selling individual sized packages instead of bulk was awesome. 
• It also shows how little we really can know and predict about the future. 
• The solution seems to be just-in-time decision making which lends itself to glass wall value stream level metrics…

Where Process Improvement Projects Go Wrong

• This is a very good article that compares the life-cycle of six sigma and lean improvement teams to spring metal being stretched and broken. 
• It ties into the human performance model in several areas where a Director’s compensation was tied directly to six sigma team’s results. 
• Interesting how focusing on successful teams (and not reporting on the failed teams) prevented the company executives from dealing with the situation earlier. 
• I liked the four lessons learned, and agreed with the conclusions.  Sustaining lean or any other improvement process is very difficult, but it can be done.  

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True Empowerment — Lean Sponsor

There are so many books written about “Empowerment”.  The first I remember reading was “Zapp! The Lightning of Empowerment: How to Improve Productivity, Quality, and Employee Satisfaction”.  

Still many people just don’t get it.  I met Managers who struggle with getting everything done in a day, and even so have a tough time letting go. 

Since it is the start of a new year here are some thoughts:

• Look for the problem areas (anytime people say “they” is a great candidate). Backlogs and customer complaints provide another source of information.
• Get a team together, and set a stretch goal (make the objective clear and measurable).
• Your job as a sponsor is to set the stage, run interference and know when to get out of the way.
• Let the team decide what needs to be improved first, and then transfer ownership quickly so the team feels the burden of accountability. 
• Your job is not to know the answers, instead know which questions to ask.
• Ask; “what do you think causes this?”  “Why?”  “What would tell you this is the reason?” and so on. 

Mentor the team without giving the answers, as you want them to grow and take on the responsibility.  When you are confident the team is on the right track, ask “what do you think will solve this?”  Let the team agree on potential solutions to try as a series of small experiments.

Then transfer ownership and accountability to the team.  This is done by asking; “Who wants to take on this part?”  Once everything is assigned, ask the team to report out in a week. 

During the report out, be very generous with praise and remember that this is uncomfortable for the team members.  Make the report out a positive experience, and then stretch the team with more challenges and questions.  Encourage your team to implement improvements rather than just pointing out problems.  Remember “improving the work is just as important as doing it”, and “the people doing the work know it best”.

Teams will look forward to reports outs and find solving their own problems to be very empowering!

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Value Stream Workshop feedback from ATMAE

Association for Technology Management and Applied Engineering provided feedback on the last VSM simulation from my recent visit to Kentucky.  This feedback will provides an insight on how the Pizza Game is being percieved, and will help to make it even better:

Plus	Delta
The hands-on component is excellent.	Would like to see additional modules to be delivered separately.
Great video introducing concepts in a situation everyone can relate to in the real world. Thanks, Bob	Nothing I can think of but will let you know if I come to think of something
Best time spent in presentation in years.	If you deliver a workshop after lunch, you might want avoid video or keep the lights on.
Bob, you did a fantastic presentation.  If I can be of assistance, please call on me.	No pizza to eat.
Entertaining, concise, good tone	Improve clarity of objectives
Liked hands-on simulations, toast video, gas station and airport activities.  Liked the Pizza Game.	Well maybe software for doing VSM (Excel, other)
Great Presentations! Very Useful, Good pace, Hands-on!
Good overview that is paced just right
Good results and points, good visuals

Thanks for the feedback!

Bob

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