Category Archives: Management

Jeff Bezos and Root Cause Analysis

Using quality tools really works. Lots of people don’t use them. Improving is often not any more difficult than just applying tools that have been used for decades. Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Management, Quality tools, Respect | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Negativity

Don’t be negative. Most people agree with that statement. We see being negative as bad. If you don’t have something good to say, don’t say anything. Well, I don’t agree. While presenting your ideas in a constructive way is helpful, … Continue reading

Posted in Management, Psychology | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Management Improvement Carnival #52

The 2008 Annual Management Improvement Carnival Review (published on a number of site) I am counting as #51, making this #52. That annual review turned out to be a very interesting collection, if you have not read all of them … Continue reading

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Checklists Save Lives

Checklists are a simple quality tool that have been used widely for decades. Pilots use them, without fail, to save lives. Some surgeons have been using them and the evidence is mounting that checklists can save many more lives if … Continue reading

Posted in Deming, Health care, Management, Process improvement, Psychology, Quality tools, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Federal Government Chief Performance Officer

A Quality Manager for Obama President-Elect Obama has hired a quality manager, and her name is Nancy Killefer. She is the newly appointed “Chief Performance Officer” whose mandate is to manage budget reforms while eliminating waste in government processes, ultimately … Continue reading

Posted in Management, Public Sector | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Curious Cat Management Carnival: Select 2008 Highlights

Over the last couple of years the quality of management material available online has increased dramatically. And blogs have provided much of the best management material. The Curious Cat Management Improvement Carnival now provides highlights 3 times a month. Each … Continue reading

Posted in Carnival, Management, Software Development | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

2008 Annual Management Blog Carnival: Part 1

The first half of the 2008 annual management blog carnival posts are online now. The posts highlight some of the best posts on management blogs in the last year. Follow the links to read some of the excellent posts that … Continue reading

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A Programmer’s View of the Universe

A few weeks ago I wrote about integrating information technology and business process management. This post from Steve Yegge is interesting and discusses one reason I find that a good strategy. Programmers, by and large, are good, practical systems thinkers … Continue reading

Posted in Creativity, Management, Respect, Software Development | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Management Blog Carnival: 2008 Overview

Over the next 2 weeks several management blogs will be posting their contributions to the management improvement annual blog carnival. Posts will highlight some of the best posts on other management blogs in the last year. Lean Six Sigma Academy: … Continue reading

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Cutting Hours Instead of People

When financial and economic realities reach the point that labor costs must be cut I believe a good option to consider is cutting hours (and pay) instead of people. Continue reading

Posted in Career, Creativity, Deming, Innovation, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged , , | 2 Comments