Category Archives: Management

Interruptions Can Severely Damage Performance

Posted on May 12, 2010 by John Hunter

Interruptions can severely degrade your performance. The type of work you are doing impacts the cost greatly. I have spent some of my time programming web applications. When I am doing that interruptions are a huge drain on my performance … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Management, Psychology, quote, Respect, Software Development, Systems thinking | Tagged Creativity, curiouscat, John Hunter, management, managing people, Paul Graham, Psychology, quote, respect for people, Software Development, Systems thinking, tips | 7 Comments

Management Improvement Carnival #97

Posted on May 11, 2010 by John Hunter

Mike Wroblewski is hosting Management Improvement Carnival #97 on the Got Boondoggle? blog, highlights include: Bagel with a side of Jidoka by Evan Durant – “And the more we explore the concept of Jidoka the more we are forced to … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged management | 1 Comment

Ignoring Unpleasant Truths is Often Encouraged

Posted on May 4, 2010 by John Hunter

We can’t Handle the Truth Unfortunately, the proverbial “kill the messenger” is alive and well in American business. People who speak the truth are often labeled as a non-team player, a disrupter, a trouble maker or the current tag of … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Process improvement, Psychology, quote, Systems thinking | Tagged management, Process improvement, Psychology, quote, respect for people, Systems thinking | 6 Comments

Nice Non-technical Control Chart Webcast

Posted on April 28, 2010 by John Hunter

This very brief introduction to control charts by PQ Systems provides a very watchable non-technical overview. Getting people to understand variation is important, and not easy. This video is one more quick reminder for those still trying to incorporate an … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Management, Process improvement, Quality tools, Systems thinking, webcast | Tagged control chart, Deming, problem solving, Process improvement, Systems thinking, variation, webcast | 1 Comment

Management Improvement Carnival #95

Posted on April 20, 2010 by John Hunter

Bryan Lund is hosting Management Improvement Carnival #95 on the Training Within Industry blog, highlights include: Kathleen Fasenella talks about “How to Sew Faster” at Fashion Incubator… Leansters will appreciate the industrial engineer that resides in Kathleen’s work – Part … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged management | 1 Comment

The Toyota Way – Two Pillars

Posted on April 15, 2010 by John Hunter

Toyota is receiving plenty of criticism now, much of it for good reason. There is also a large amount of psychology involved. From what I have seen, the insurance companies still see better claims history (fewer and lower cost claims) … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Lean thinking, Management, Manufacturing, Popular, Process improvement, quote, Respect, Toyota Production System (TPS) | Tagged continual improvement, curiouscat, lean management, lean manufacturing, Lean thinking, management, managing people, Popular, quote, respect for people, Toyota, Toyota Production System (TPS) | 18 Comments

Management Improvement Carnival #94

Posted on April 10, 2010 by John Hunter

The Curious Cat Management blog carnival highlights management blog posts 3 times each month. I have also collected hundreds of online management improvement articles in the Curious Cat Management Library. Why You Should Never Listen to Your Customers by Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival, Management | Tagged Carnival, management | 1 Comment

Taxes per Person by Country

Posted on April 7, 2010 by John Hunter

I think that the idea that data lies is false, and that such a notion is commonly held a sign of lazy intellect. You can present data in different ways to focus on different aspects of a system. And you … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Economics, Management | Tagged Data, economic data, management, Statistics | 1 Comment

Management Blog Posts From April 2006

Posted on April 5, 2010 by John Hunter

Here are some of the blog posts from the Curious Cat Management Improvement made in April 2006: PBS Documentary: Improving Hospitals – “Systems thinking allows leaders and staff to see the complex, modern workplace with ‘new eyes’ and turn problems … Continue reading →

Posted in Management | Tagged archive, management | Comments Off

Aligning Marketing Vision and Management

Posted on March 23, 2010 by John Hunter

Why do so many companies market one thing and provide something else? I know it might be easier to sell something different than what you offer your customer today. But if you decide to market one vision, why don’t you … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer focus, Management, Popular, quote, Respect, Systems thinking | Tagged Customer focus, customer service, John Hunter, management, marketing, Popular, quote, respect for people, Systems thinking | 6 Comments