Happy Friday! This is an oldie but goodie. A funny reminder that at the end of the day, CI efforts should focus on improving the means by which the business interprets and meets the needs of its customers. The impact of this effort is strongly enhanced by first taking the time to figure out what your customers want and expect. When was the last time you conducted a Voice of [...]
Cuts in headcount are too often made with short term goals in mind. Somehow those with traditional management views consider this among the easier tacts to take when looking at cutting costs. I will grant them that it is one of the faster solutions in that regard. I would hope that these layoffs represent a last resort for Levis Strauss. I imagine that if they are truly experiencing a glut [...]
Ironic how the act of being transparent is considered “radical” in business yet is a sign of integrity for the individual. At least the paradigm is changing, and the skill set of more CEO’s today is less Great and Powerful Oz and more Thoughtful Connector, Synthesizer and Communicator. http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/5-lessons-in-radical-leadership-from-the-quick-and-nimble-author.html
I agree that Nordstrom’s market defining customer service is as this article suggests, the result of employees empowered by automony which is tempered by standards. But to have this kind of impact, standards can’t be created in a vacuum. And this level of service doesn’t happen by accident. I believe this level of service and the standards that enable it, wouldn’t be as distinctive or impactful if they did [...]
Harvard Business Review’s article, “Storytelling That Moves People” , has resurfaced again recently. Though it’s been over 10 years since it was first published, I’m struck by its still very relevant message and how eloquently interview subject, writer and director Robert McKee, describes both the components and power of a good story as well as the qualities of a good storyteller. Organizations are desperately in need of both. Employee engagement [...]
Mark Graban gets to the heart of what keeps organizations from cultivating a CI culture - lack of organizational alignment and commitment: “The problem is many (if not most) of these Lean initiatives are completely project-based or rely on top-down decisions, missing the opportunity for truly continuous improvement that engages each employee and leader – “Kaizen"." Mark's tips on how to make it happen.
Interesting take on the ways giving drives learning, professional growth and even success for employers. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/how-to-succeed-professionally-by-helping-others/284429/
For better or worse, organizations that experience performance pain tend to feel the burn most acutely in Operations. Macresco is often brought in to assess the damage and charged with conceiving of the “Lean” remedy executive management (misguidedly) believes will put an end to their troubles. It is at this point where my uphill battle begins. I’m either battling leadership on the purpose and application of Lean or management on [...]
