Category Archives: Management

No More Executive Bonuses!

Posted on November 30, 2009 by John Hunter

Henry Mintzberg, wrote an excellent article for the Wall Street Journal today, No More Executive Bonuses! Don’t pay any bonuses. Nothing. This may sound extreme. But when you look at the way the compensation game is played – and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Performance Appraisal | Tagged bonus, commentary, ethics, executive pay, leadership, management, overpaid executives, respect for people | 5 Comments

Making Better Decisions

Posted on November 24, 2009 by John Hunter

I think the most important thing you can do to make better decisions is to learn from the decisions you make. It sounds easy, but very few people do so effectively. The best strategy to learn from decisions is to: … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Process improvement, quote, Systems thinking | Tagged Career, continual improvement, Data, John Hunter, learning, management, Process improvement, Quality tools, quote, Systems thinking, tips | 4 Comments

Lean Inventories Do Not Excuse Failing to Deliver

Posted on November 20, 2009 by John Hunter

Low inventory levels do not mean failing to have products available for customers. Now, if you manufacturing in huge batches and can’t respond to customer feedback then it might mean failure to predict customer demand does mean failure to deliver. … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer focus, Lean thinking, Management, Manufacturing, Process improvement, Systems thinking | Tagged Customer focus, customer service, Economics, lean management, lean manufacturing, Lean thinking, Process improvement | 2 Comments

Learn Lean by Doing Lean

Posted on November 13, 2009 by John Hunter

In response to: Developing Your Lean Education Plan [the broken link was removed] If you actually let the lean leaders practice lean management you are probably doing more to help them learn than anything else. Reading is great, but 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Education, Lean thinking, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged Career, coaching, curiouscat, Education, John Hunter, Lean thinking, management, managing people, respect for people, Systems thinking, training | 6 Comments

Management Webcast: Introduction to Lean Manufacturing

Posted on November 9, 2009 by John Hunter

Webcast introduction to lean manufacturing by Ron Pereira. This is a great 9 minute introduction to the topic, for those not familiar with lean thinking. It sets the context for lean thinking and provides some history on how lean manufacturing … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Lean thinking, Management, Toyota Production System (TPS), webcast | Tagged lean manufacturing, management, management history, management webcast, webcast | Comments Off

Russell L. Ackoff: 1919 -2009

Posted on October 31, 2009 by John Hunter

We lost another of the absolutely best minds in management history, this week. Somehow, many managers, do not know of Russell Ackoff’s ideas. I find that amazing. Dr. Ackoff is one of two management thinkers that any manager, that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Innovation, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged Ackoff, Deming, management, respect for people, Systems thinking | 4 Comments

Worker Retention at Zappos

Posted on October 29, 2009 by John Hunter

Tony Hsieh, chief executive of Zappos, spoke at a recent y-combinator event (two great organizations we have mentioned before). Facebook and Zappos’s Different Views on Worker Retention “We actually want our employees stay with the company for a long time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Deming, Fun, Management, Psychology, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged aim, Creativity, Deming, long term thinking, management, managing people, respect for people | 2 Comments

Managing to Test Result Instead of Customer Value

Posted on October 19, 2009 by John Hunter

Computer hardware and software creators use benchmarks as one tool to compare the performance of alternative products. At times this can be very useful. You can learn what software of hardware is faster and that may be a very valuable … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, IT, Management, Software Development, Systems thinking | Tagged Creativity, Data, programming, Software Development, Systems thinking, targets | 7 Comments

2009 Deming Prize

Posted on October 16, 2009 by John Hunter

The Union Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) has awarded Niigata Diamond Electric (Japan) and Siam White Cement Company (Thailand) the Deming prize. Organizations receiving the Deming Prize since 2000 by country (prior to that almost all winners were from Japan): … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management | Tagged awards, Deming, Deming Prize, India, TQM | 4 Comments

Management Improvement Carnival #77

Posted on October 1, 2009 by John Hunter

The Curious Cat Management Improvement Carnival provide links to recent blog posts for those interesting in improving management of organizations. A lesson in strategy, taught by a Cat by Mark Hurst – “Without direction, we’re presenting our flipcharts and our … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Lean thinking, Management | Tagged Carnival, Lean thinking, management | 2 Comments