Yearly Archives: 2007

This Too is a Kanban

Posted on September 21, 2007 by John Hunter

This Too is a Kanban by Jon Miller: The orthodox description of a kanban is a rectangular card in a plastic sleeve used to reorder materials from a supplier or an upstream process, or a triangular metal plate used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Management | Comments Off on This Too is a Kanban

Search Share Data – Checking the ACSI

Posted on September 20, 2007 by John Hunter

Last month, in a long post criticizing the ACSI I took issue with, among other things, the implications being drawn from an ACSI rating. The ACSI rating of Yahoo was higher than that of Google (though statistically insignificantly so). Anyway, … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Google, Statistics | 4 Comments

Kaizen – Yahoo Mail Style

Posted on September 19, 2007 by John Hunter

Yahoo Mail Innovates, Gmail Stagnates Yahoo Mail has begun rolling out of beta after releasing an onslaught of innovative feature improvements along the way. On the other hand, a whopping three years into their beta release, Gmail remains one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Google, Innovation, IT, Management, Software Development | 1 Comment

Employees That Telecommute are the Most Loyal

Posted on September 18, 2007 by John Hunter

In Loyal Employees Stay Home, quotes from the Wall Street Journal (behind a iron curtain still in this day and age – oh well): “When companies allow employees to work remotely or from home, they are explicitly communicating to them … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, IT, Management, Respect, Systems thinking | 3 Comments

Keeping Older Workers

Posted on September 16, 2007 by John Hunter

We’re Not Finnished With You Yet Abloy and many other Finnish companies are suddenly treating older employees like a precious resource. Instead of nudging them into early retirement, they’re coaxing gray-hairs to work longer with better health benefits, extra weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Management, Psychology, Respect, Systems thinking | 2 Comments

Management Improvement Carnival #19

Posted on September 14, 2007 by John Hunter

Please submit your favorite management posts to the carnival. Read the previous management carnivals. Why Does Bad Management Thrive So Much? by David Maister – “My question is: why hasn’t this egregiously bad management been driven out competitively? How do … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Comments Off on Management Improvement Carnival #19

Deming on being Destroyed by Best Efforts

Posted on September 13, 2007 by John Hunter

Best efforts are essential. Unfortunately, best efforts, people charging this way and that way without guidance of principles, can do a lot of damage. Think of the chaos that would come if everyone did his best, not knowing what to … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Systems thinking | 5 Comments

USA Paying More for Health Care

Posted on September 11, 2007 by John Hunter

The USA health care system is well known as by the most costly in the world. Most also agree the system provides far from the best results – perhaps great results could justify such high prices but that is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Economics, Health care | 7 Comments

Deming Electronic Network Email List

Posted on September 10, 2007 by John Hunter

The Deming Electronic Network email list 2.0 [deleted link as this is no longer online] is now live. The aim of the Deming Electronic Network is to: “Learn, apply, and extend the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming and to … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, IT, Management | 5 Comments

Jim Press, Toyota N. American President, Moves to Chrysler

Posted on September 6, 2007 by John Hunter

Jim Press leaves Toyota to join Chrysler. I am surprised. I would imagine he is getting a huge amount of money. And I would guess it will encourage those that think you have to massively overpay executives or lose them … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Toyota Production System (TPS) | 1 Comment