tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76746549486289919012024-03-14T00:23:29.644-05:00Do moreJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-38463725135971000892010-12-14T08:20:00.001-06:002010-12-23T08:39:06.549-06:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TQbUaG9BJcI/AAAAAAAABfU/zlMLG-TJN5A/s1600/world+piece.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TQbUaG9BJcI/AAAAAAAABfU/zlMLG-TJN5A/s1600/world+piece.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><b>Wishing all my friends, customers, and readers a safe and joyous holiday. Merry Christmas!</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Click <a href="http://www.watopot.org/a-christmas-story/">here</a> to read a short story about gratitude. To quote the author, </span><br />
<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message">"Remember to appreciate the things you already have more then anticipate the things you might be getting this Christmas."</span></h3></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-50333717585686814782010-11-23T08:54:00.000-06:002010-11-23T08:54:15.554-06:00thank you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TOvUfdUoNqI/AAAAAAAABfQ/g74b9MRrCgM/s1600/turkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TOvUfdUoNqI/AAAAAAAABfQ/g74b9MRrCgM/s320/turkeys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As a child growing up ten miles from the middle of nowhere, I enjoyed abundant wildlife in the woods surrounding our home. Winter or summer, a gaggle of turkeys would walk close to the house, their shrill gobbles announcing their presence and calling us to the windows to watch them.<br />
<br />
I think of these mornings especially around Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you for your support to <b><span style="color: #38761d;">WE</span> llc</b> and for following me on this blog! Your comments and private emails encourage me to keep writing. I've been nose to the grindstone on a recent project and have let a few weeks of blogging slip by. I'll continue after the holidays.<br />
<br />
I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-17936441362567153582010-11-09T07:34:00.008-06:002010-11-09T07:34:00.378-06:00appropriate technology & right sizing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TM2pkd0t-zI/AAAAAAAABfE/f23hnq0OJdA/s1600/blog+old+cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TM2pkd0t-zI/AAAAAAAABfE/f23hnq0OJdA/s320/blog+old+cars.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">In his <a href="http://leandisciplinedsystems.blogspot.com/2010/10/keep-it-to-yourself.html">TED talk</a>, Steven Johnson talked about using appropriate technology for your target user.<span> </span>He talked about using technology that people were familiar with and could fix, operate, teach about, and the like.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Plunking a machine built for one company in a specific city or country, won’t necessarily work somewhere else. Remove to a second world country and it’s another ball of wax. I love that phrase, my grandfather used to use it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Steven specifically cites an example in Africa about medical x-ray equipment built with car parts.<span> </span>Why car parts?<span> </span>He says it’s because Africans are really good at keeping their old cars running.<span> </span>If the x-ray machine had parts like a car, it’d be familiar enough to encourage their fixing, right?<span> </span>It’s true.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Where else are they really good at keeping their cars running?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mexico.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I visited Mexico for the first time in 1998.<span> </span>Right away I noticed all the old model cars on the road. I actually recall saying out loud, “<b>they really know how to keep their cars running.</b>”<span> </span>Are you designing equipment for Mexico?<span> </span>Maybe listen to Steven’s talk again before your next design review.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Organizational systems can be similarly designed to fit the culture and size of a company.<span> </span>What works for a 500 person organization will be a tad cumbersome for a 12 person operation.<span> </span>I’m working on right-sizing a <b>Quality Management System</b> currently.<span> </span>While it’s always a goal to minimize paperwork, it will be especially critical to minimize control and documentation for a team where each member wears many hats.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This right sizing will start with leaner processes and combining of tasks to keep it as simple as possible.<span> </span>That acronym didn’t catch on for nothing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><blockquote style="color: #4c1130;"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">What in your job is really painful - paperwork or process wise?</span></b></div></blockquote>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-78230302480450461922010-11-02T06:54:00.007-05:002010-11-02T06:54:00.188-05:00participation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When you participate: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">you effect, </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">you change, </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">you experience.</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TM2uG3zBrII/AAAAAAAABfI/ykJ8DV7SECk/s1600/blog+vote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TM2uG3zBrII/AAAAAAAABfI/ykJ8DV7SECk/s320/blog+vote.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">As much as we’re the same, I find that we’re also very much <b>unique</b> in how we approach oppor- tunities and problems.<span> </span>(For example, several of you will look at those two words and think them the same thing)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This unique quality is what I love about working in teams.<span> </span>Team work simply makes whatever it is you’re working on better.<span> </span>Constructive participation by everyone creates <b>trust</b>, <b>confidence</b>, <b>momentum</b>, and a <b>better</b> product.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Similarly, participation in our community will make everything better too –</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you volunteer, you directly effect the quality of someone’s life</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you donate, you increase the security of someone’s life</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you help your neighbor, your relationship is stronger, he’s encouraged to help someone else, your neighborhood is better, and it spreads. </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you vote, your country will have leaders who represent its views</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In my opinion of course.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #4c1130;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Please vote today.</span></b></div></blockquote>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-81399001725512893842010-10-26T07:54:00.002-05:002010-10-26T07:54:00.234-05:00keep it to yourself!Have you ever invented something? Have any patents under your belt? I have a feeling you have. Most of us have a few eureka moments in our lives, others blessed with many.<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where do good ideas come from?</span></blockquote><br /><br />Check out this <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">TED</span> talk by Steven Johnson <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_johnson_where_good_ideas_come_from.html">here</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4qsChB39I/AAAAAAAABec/6W8ZObeUcN4/s1600/BLOG+TED.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4qsChB39I/AAAAAAAABec/6W8ZObeUcN4/s400/BLOG+TED.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520897129280823250" border="0" /></a><br />Steven was also featured in the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499604575512751348816216.html?KEYWORDS=the+genius+of+the+tinkerer">Wall Street Journal</a>, September 25th, in the article, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Genius of the Tinkerer</span>. In a similar tone to his TED talk, he speaks about how to use technology. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Innovation</span> is not about implementing the latest technology, but the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">appropriate</span> technology.<br /><br /><br />It's clearly about <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> keeping it to yourself, right? If you've ever wondered about the validity or complained <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4rYiu9nGI/AAAAAAAABek/RbXzVrbkehc/s1600/BLOG+coffee+TED+talk.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4rYiu9nGI/AAAAAAAABek/RbXzVrbkehc/s320/BLOG+coffee+TED+talk.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520897893843442786" border="0" /></a>about preparing for a design review, I hope this makes you think twice.<br /><br />If brainstorm meetings, product development strategy sessions, or design reviews aren't quite what they used to be in your company, perhaps we should <a href="http://www.leanproductdevelopment.us/">talk</a> over coffee.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-39102098927844229752010-10-19T06:45:00.000-05:002010-10-19T06:45:00.820-05:00Can't they just read it?<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1027"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The goal of training is always to <span style="font-weight: bold;">improve</span> the <span style="font-weight: bold;">performance </span>of an individual.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">In your company, this means improving performance relative to their job goals defined relative to corporate goals.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Tying training outcomes to performance improvement through application of new skills or tools accountable by a manager is critical in enforcing the embrace of new information and the formation of new habits (applying the new information and/or tools).</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Training is basically knowledge and skill transfer. It would be wonderful if we could easily be enlightened by simply reading. Oh how easy college would have been and what a genius I'd be right now!</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Training without interaction, performance goals, and expectations will not maximize benefit to the<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4nchWjHhI/AAAAAAAABeM/B6w2u83jz6E/s1600/BLOG+training+4.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4nchWjHhI/AAAAAAAABeM/B6w2u83jz6E/s320/BLOG+training+4.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520893564145573394" border="0" /></a> company nor the colleague forced to spend possibly hours away their daily assignments.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Training with performance goals is not easy. </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It involves at minimum three people: the trainer, the colleague trained, and their manager. </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It involves <span style="font-weight: bold;">participation</span> in the training, <span style="font-weight: bold;">assignments</span> afterward, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">accountability</span> with a manager.</span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;">The purpose is to stretch and grow colleagues within your company to make them better contributors and to positively impact the bottom line.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Training that is active and involving all senses to force new ideas and skills to become habits through hands-on application, role-play, tests, and discussion maximizes how much information is retained and ultimately applied on the job.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;">What do you like least about training?</span></blockquote><p></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><blockquote style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">What do you like best?</span></span></blockquote><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-75186353252574304242010-10-12T07:16:00.002-05:002010-10-12T12:49:50.058-05:00why do we need training?<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1029"> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The need for training is often identified when <span style="font-weight: bold;">something goes wrong</span>.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hsuj3wXI/AAAAAAAABd8/gk5k4t6yoY8/s1600/BLOG+training+1.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hsuj3wXI/AAAAAAAABd8/gk5k4t6yoY8/s320/BLOG+training+1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887245499253106" border="0" /></a></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bad</span> parts are getting to the customer</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">A customer is <span style="font-weight: bold;">angry</span>, or too many customers are angry</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">It takes too <span style="font-weight: bold;">long</span> for the team to solve problems</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Validation testing yields 40% first time <span style="font-weight: bold;"> failures</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Program targets aren’t<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>being met in a <span style="font-weight: bold;">timely</span> manner</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">These are just a few examples of common business problems.<span style=""> </span>These issues have root causes that are not always correctable through Training.<span style=""> </span>Let’s take the first example of “Bad parts are getting to the customer”.<span style=""> </span>A few of the root causes could be:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of manufacturing <span style="font-weight: bold;">poke-yokes</span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hmi3eFPI/AAAAAAAABd0/yVRcI6zB07U/s1600/BLOG+training+2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 193px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hmi3eFPI/AAAAAAAABd0/yVRcI6zB07U/s320/BLOG+training+2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520887139281016050" border="0" /></a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of <span style="font-weight: bold;">design</span> poke-yokes</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bad parts feeding manu- facturing from a <span style="font-weight: bold;">supplier</span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Operator instructions</span> not correct or difficult</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Machine</span> not operating as designed</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Each of these root causes identify a different person as responsibl</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">e for the failure, which in turn identifies specific training – <span style="font-weight: bold;">or does it</span>?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In addition to understanding what, where, and when, it is important to identify who is responsible and who will impact future outcomes.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>‘Who’ is commonly defined in a process explaining the performance required. <span style=""> </span>It should be noted that job performance is simply tied to job expectations, work experience, job knowledge, and workload. Everyone goes to work wanting to do a good job.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Any employee should be able to say: </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hdbfgI1I/AAAAAAAABds/UQpCRYatZC0/s1600/BLOG+training+3.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 201px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4hdbfgI1I/AAAAAAAABds/UQpCRYatZC0/s320/BLOG+training+3.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520886982682616658" border="0" /></a></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I know what’s expected of me</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have <span style="font-weight: bold;">experience</span> that helps me do my job better </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I know how to do my job, and</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have enough <span style="font-weight: bold;">time</span> to accomplish all that is assigned to me.</span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Training is needed when an employee can’t do #3 well. Setting employees up for success can only make the company more successful.<br /></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-66541020952621166032010-10-05T07:35:00.000-05:002010-10-05T07:35:00.438-05:00SsssssshH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4mjYb3SQI/AAAAAAAABeE/SH7aQR1kbjY/s1600/BLOG+office+birthday.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJ4mjYb3SQI/AAAAAAAABeE/SH7aQR1kbjY/s320/BLOG+office+birthday.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520892582499404034" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">A co-worker bustled into my office holding a slim folder. "Could you take care of this as soon as possible and then bring it down to marketing?" she asked breathlessly. I grabbed it from her and reminded her that my manager needed to see it as well. Just then my phone rang. It was the administrative assistant from human resources, wanting to know if I had possession of the folder and what time I might be able to return it to her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I looked around furtively to make sure no one was looming over my shoulder before I snuck it open, pen in hand. Stealth and secrecy were of the essence. No, this wasn't a legal contract for a new acquisition. It wasn't a patent application or a termination notice. It was a birthday card.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">There's something primal about birthdays celebrated at work, in terms of how they bring out the jubilant little kid in all of us. These days, birthdays at home or among my friends tend to be relatively sedate affairs, now that we're all well into middle age; but somehow in the workplace, a birthday still sends everyone into a festive tizzy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Of course, there's no question about the main reason people in offices love birthdays: Birthday cake. In general, the group at my workplace is a nutritionally restrained bunch, eating salads and fruit for lunch, yogurt or a cup of coffee for a late-afternoon snack. But for birthdays, everyone dives into the cake with abandon as the guest of honor chuckles politely over a card signed by 12 different people, each one staking out their own little territory on the page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">No one ever has anything meaningful to say on an office card. The fact that we can't think of anything clever to write is only part of it; there's also the awareness that 11 other people are going to read your message before they sign it themselves. So we just try to fill up our allotted three or four lines of scribble. "Wow - another year older!" or "Hope you celebrate in style!"</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">At my last workplace, I let it slip at some point that I loved to make birthday cakes. From then on, needless to say, I was crowned Department Birthday Baker. I still remember my boss asking me if I'd do the honors for Kelly, who had just joined our team from another department days earlier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">"I will, but what kind do you think I should make?" I asked him. "I have no idea what she'd like."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">My boss was no baker; he was a sophisticated cosmopolitan bachelor whose kitchen inventory probably consisted of a bottle of vodka and a can of macadamia nuts. "Carrot cake," he said definitively.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Carrot cake?" I wailed. "Do you know how long it will take me to grate all those carrots? I've only known Kelly for forty-eight hours. I'm not making her a carrot cake!"</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I went with basic chocolate, which Kelly assured me she liked just fine as the party was wrapping up the next afternoon. But by the time her next birthday rolled around, when we'd had the chance to work together and develop a cordial friendship for a full year, I felt compelled to ask her what her favorite kind of cake was. "Carrot," she admitted. I left early that day so I'd have plenty of time to grate the carrots.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">One reason I like making cakes so much is that I like eating cakes so much. And I thought this was readily obvious until my own birthday arrived. As is always the tradition, the conference room was dark when my manager summoned me in on the pretext of an emergency meeting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Surprise!" everyone yelled as the lights went on. In the center of the big glass table was a round plastic tray with Ritz crackers and a brick of orange cheese.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Everyone always has cake for their birthday, so we decided for you we'd do something different!" my manager said proudly. "Who needs more sweets? Isn't this a nice change?"</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I didn't stay at that workplace much longer. It might sound petty to say I quit over my birthday celebration, but it was akin to the heroine's disappointment in "Father of the Bride' when her fiancé gives her a blender.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was heartbreaking to discover that my manager, and the rest of the department, knew me so little, after so many years. I mean, really: Supermarket-brand cheese and crackers? And much to my additional disappointment, "crappy birthday party" was not a line-item option on the exit interview form.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">The reason we love celebrating birthdays at work, I've come to realize, is that the whole mindset of a birthday party is so completely the opposite of how we get accustomed to thinking at work. Workplace pleasures so often come with a price. If you get a promotion, there is always the strong possibility that some people are not particularly happy for you and don't necessarily think you deserve it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you take the afternoon off, there's always someone tripping over herself to tell you that she was in the office until 9 o'clock last night.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Birthdays, on the other hand, are about being celebrated merely for the literal fact of your existence - the one thing that no co-worker is likely to try to detract from. "Congratulations on your promotion" might be said with dubious sincerity, but when your officemate drops by the conference room to say happy birthday, you can be almost certain that she really means it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Office birthdays are so frivolous, but that's exactly why we love them. A break in the workplace routine for a few minutes of festivity. A sugary, fattening snack we normally wouldn't allow ourselves. A few minutes to gab with co-workers about weekend plans or recent vacations or pet anecdotes. Office birthday parties always have the feel of a forbidden pleasure, kind of like the big yellow buttercream rose in the center of the cake.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;">That is, as long as your department doesn't decide to "surprise" you with cheese and crackers, in which case - as I discovered - it's time to resign, and do not tell your new colleagues that you love to make birthday cakes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">-<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >story written by </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Nancy Shohet West</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" > and originally published with the Boston Globe in their on-line job forum </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" href="http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2007/09/09/birthdays_offer_break_from_the_office_norm/?page=1">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >: http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2007/09/09/birthdays_offer_break_from_the_office_norm/?page=1</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Published for you as a treat and hopefully a smile in celebration of my birthday this week! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>You really wanted cake didn't you?</blockquote></span><br /></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-17229173394028551232010-09-28T07:18:00.000-05:002010-09-28T07:18:00.155-05:00Why it's so hard to do new thingsContinuing my review of the 2007 MIT Management Conference, I listened to educator, Rebecca Henderson talk about why it's so<span style="font-weight: bold;"> difficult</span> to make <span style="font-weight: bold;">changes</span> in a company.<br /><br />Her words rang all too clear relative to a recent project I'm working on. If your company is bleeding, there are two things you can do: <br /><br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">blame the lazy people who work for you</span> - after all, the last time you pushed them, they came through for you. (so the problem must be with them)</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">work really really hard so there isn't time to make decisions</li></ol><br />There are really two theories Rebecca talks about and she's spot on:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">The first one is: "There's a problem let's fix it"</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">The second says, "We have a problem, someone is screwing up, let's go beat them up"</span></blockquote><br />The funny thing about the second theory is that (if it were even appropriate to use this option!) the <span style="font-style: italic;">wrong</span> person is beat up.<br /><blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">If the problem is to be truly solved, we have to start looking at the first theory and make long lasting change.</span></blockquote><br />I have two steps for <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">you</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NUMBER ONE</span><br />Spend a very worthwhile hour <a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/544">listening</a>:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJj4ICjEc1I/AAAAAAAABdU/vh4Gls4FqhA/s1600/WE+change+in+companies+1.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJj4ICjEc1I/AAAAAAAABdU/vh4Gls4FqhA/s400/WE+change+in+companies+1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519434160349147986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NUMBER TWO:</span><br /><a href="http://leanproductdevelopment.us/">Call</a> me.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-68395252648966240402010-09-21T11:07:00.004-05:002010-09-21T11:43:34.193-05:00ground breakingCatching up on interesting speakers from the 2007 MIT Innovations in Management Conference, I found two things: 1)I love the short <a href="http://www.ted.com/">TED</a> talks! 2)a few people extolling the virtues of self reflection and a need for self understanding to become better leaders.<br /><br />Check out<a href="http://www.ottoscharmer.com/"> Otto Scharmer's</a> talk <a href="http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/795">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJjam3SiJpI/AAAAAAAABdE/p77McAo2J-4/s1600/0blog+mit+video.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TJjam3SiJpI/AAAAAAAABdE/p77McAo2J-4/s400/0blog+mit+video.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519401704554112658" border="0" /></a><br />Otto speaks in open terms but lays the foundation for companies teaching the benefits of defining your strengths. For a good decade we've all been aware of how focusing on your strengths is far superior to focusing on what you're not good at.<br /><blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do next when you know your strengths?</span></blockquote><br /><br />Part of this question is answered once you know more about where your strengths pop - or reveal themselves. I'm talking about private thinking, social interactions, action, etc.<br /><br />Improvement through coaching to <span style="font-weight: bold;">performance </span>goals using <span style="font-weight: bold;">your</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">hard wired strengths to identify the way forward</span> is groundbreaking. Check out this <a href="http://personal-intelligence.com/aboutus?mth=aboutus&submth=ourmission">website</a> for more information - or email me.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-58469620325851069092010-09-14T06:59:00.001-05:002010-09-14T06:59:00.417-05:00Applying your strengths<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TI48x0pIB2I/AAAAAAAABa8/Zke-Icp3yW0/s1600/0blog+book.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 264px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TI48x0pIB2I/AAAAAAAABa8/Zke-Icp3yW0/s320/0blog+book.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516413420217829218" border="0" /></a><br />There are a lot of business <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=strengths+finder&x=0&y=0">books</a> on discovering your strengths and learning your all encompassing traits.<br /><br />I took the Strength's Finder's test five years ago. It told me this:<br /><br /><ul><li>I was: Strategic</li><li>Input</li><li>Intellection</li><li>Ideation</li><li>Maximer</li><li>Responsibility</li></ul><br />Hmmm. Luckily for each identifier, it provided a paragraph of explanation. Pulling a collection of characteristics from the various pages, it told me this:<br /><br /><ul><li>I see patterns for solution or development</li></ul><ul><li>I am intrigued when seeing disparate phenomena can be linked by an obsure or hidden connection</li></ul><ul><li>I like learning new things and collecting information</li></ul><ul><li>I like to stretch and challenge myself intellectually</li></ul><ul><li>I seek people who draw on their strengths and am not satisfied with average</li></ul><ul><li>I am dependable always striving to do what I say i will</li></ul><br />Not bad.<br /><br />It only seemed to <span style="font-weight: bold;">scratch the surface</span> however and didn't really offer more information how to put these strengths to use or market my ability. Many books and organizations can get close to the above information - and surprisingly so with their quick multiple choice questions - but they don't tell you what's next.<br /><br />I have a feeling that's because for every person, the "what's next" is very different, right?<br /><br />This is what got me more interested in partnering with <a href="http://personal-intelligence.com/aboutus?mth=aboutus&submth=ourmission">Emotional Intelligence</a>. Frank, creator of <span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pi</span><sup style="font-weight: bold;">3</sup>™</span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>, places your strengths within the context of where they exisit. Your strengths <span style="font-weight: bold;">manifest</span> in a few places: within the processing power of your brain (<span style="font-weight: bold;">thinking</span>), with (<span style="font-weight: bold;">feeling</span>), and in executing tasks (<span style="font-weight: bold;">doing</span>). These moments tie directly to when you're by yourself, with others, in large groups, and within the community and world at large.<br /><br />Your strengths are anchored within a matrix that is very much your own where they are exhibted uniquely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What should we do about it?</span><br /><br />Here comes the fun part and how Frank and I work together. Remember from above where "I see patterns and am intrigued by disparate phenomena"?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yeah, I solve problems.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">I connect the dots and see gaps not apparent to others.</span></blockquote><br /><br />Through understanding of your <span style="font-weight: bold;">goals</span> and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> how</span> you work now, I can outline a plan and identify the next steps needed for you to go <span style="font-weight: bold;">forward</span> successfully. Frank tunes my suggestions for your unique character to make <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">how</span> you'll work be better for you - easier, enjoyable, excelling.<br /><br />You won't do something if it seems like a chore. You for sure won't do it right away. You want to work within your realm, withing your hardwired strengths. It's natural. Human. It's right.<br /><br />Contact <a href="http://leanproductdevelopment.us/">me</a> to learn more.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-62264165231367150362010-09-07T07:21:00.000-05:002010-09-07T07:21:00.239-05:00I'll get to that next week..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TH1KeZr_4NI/AAAAAAAABX4/qRH3U42r0_E/s1600/papers+BLOG.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TH1KeZr_4NI/AAAAAAAABX4/qRH3U42r0_E/s320/papers+BLOG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511643405123313874" border="0" /></a><br />It’s easy to become <span style="font-weight: bold;">protective</span> of the work you do.<br /><br />It’s yours.<br /><br />You made it.<br /><br />The automotive industry created or adopted many <span style="font-weight: bold;">checks</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">balances</span> to ensure that work was not only done in the right way, but produced good <span style="font-weight: bold;">results</span>. These checks and balances are often called by names like: <span style="font-weight: bold;">FMEAs</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">8D</span>s, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Design Reviews</span>, Spider charts, and Control <span style="font-weight: bold;">Plans</span>. There are other names too.<br /><br />Bringing these tools into your company can work like a charm in producing amazing high quality <span style="font-weight: bold;">high</span> output equipment and product. The charms work when the whole team is <span style="font-weight: bold;">engaged</span> in the process of using the tools and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> enforcing </span>their use.<br /><br />Let’s take one tool as an example.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">The FMEA.</span></blockquote><br /><br />Typically many people are involved with this: the developing engineer, a quality representative, a machine operator, the production engineer, and perhaps two other colleagues contributing to the diligence of the design. Three managers are also involved: the developing engineer’s manager, the program manager of the project, and the production manager.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why so many people?</span></blockquote><br /><br />When you’re a part of creating something, it becomes yours. You get <span style="font-weight: bold;">protective </span>of change and <span style="font-weight: bold;">defensive</span> on function. Perhaps you’ll even let a few things slide. It’s <span style="font-weight: bold;">human</span> nature. As part of a team, you might let someone off the hook if they missed a few things or give them the ‘few extra days’ they’ve requested to make something right.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-weight: bold;">The check is the document as proof of the work.</blockquote><br /><br />(the machine if not designed in a thoughtful, risk-assessed, BEA way will break down though not always immediately!)<br /><blockquote> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The balance is the pool of managers who make sure the work is done.</span></blockquote><br /><br />If the checks and balances are thrown off, it’s possible that all the work might not get completed. It’s possible that a machine run-off won’t occur, that needed fixes get put off indefinitely, that a machine could break down often, and people won’t get trained.<br /><br />Sometimes the root cause of a problem goes deeper than its immediate ‘obvious’ fix.<br /><blockquote> <span style="font-weight: bold;">How is the process of checks and balances working in your company?</span></blockquote>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-74896411472970712282010-08-31T11:33:00.003-05:002010-08-31T11:41:20.581-05:00busy doing nothing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TH0v-9eeTWI/AAAAAAAABXw/xXGC_dslw1Q/s1600/busyness+BLOG.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 181px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TH0v-9eeTWI/AAAAAAAABXw/xXGC_dslw1Q/s320/busyness+BLOG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511614277672127842" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Progress.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Defined simply by <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/progress">Wiktionary</a> as “a moving or going forward; a proceeding onward; an advance”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Progress is something you can <span style="font-weight: bold;">witness</span>,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> effect</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">feel</span>.<span style=""> </span>You know the days I’m talking about.<span style=""> </span>It just feels <i>good</i> when you’ve <span style="font-weight: bold;">completed</span> a project, nailed the <span style="font-weight: bold;">critical idea</span> in the development of a product, <span style="font-weight: bold;">solved</span> the root cause of a big problem, or simply <span style="font-weight: bold;">sold</span> a new program<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><blockquote style="font-weight: bold;">It feels good when you make progress.</blockquote><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What about the other days you work?<span style=""> </span>What about the people you work with?<span style=""> </span>Can you tell when they make progress?<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><blockquote>Can you tell when they’re not making progress?</blockquote></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sometimes.<span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span>It can be witnessed by individual or company – as in a culture of a company.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">You know what I’m talking about.<span style=""> </span>You witness:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">People walking really fast needing to get somewhere fast<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Someone walking in breathless to a meeting because they were rushing there<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">A person who begins many sentences with, “I’m going to…” and “I’ve been really busy”<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">People who choose to focus on the <i style="">now</i> with disregard for future work<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">A person or group of persons busy but not getting done what they need to<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family:Arial;"><br />There are a few top causes why this happens, let’s start a list:<br /><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Procrastination<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of understanding<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of planning<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Alternative agendas<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bureaucracy<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Conflicting directives<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Multiple ‘bosses’<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of strategic direction<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lack of leadership<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>Are you experiencing any of these?</blockquote></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-53749020434848384362010-08-24T12:32:00.004-05:002010-08-24T12:49:40.181-05:00mirror mirror on the wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/THQFPYz9gFI/AAAAAAAABXo/ncJzRKgxdac/s1600/blog+mirror.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/THQFPYz9gFI/AAAAAAAABXo/ncJzRKgxdac/s320/blog+mirror.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509034006097526866" border="0" /></a><br />Looking at yourself whether under a magnifying glass or in a mirror rarely reveals results you want to find.<br /><br />You may find flaws you thought didn't exist. It's hard to discover bad things about yourself. It's even harder if someone else knows (or tells you) about them. Discovering them however, is the first step in eliminating them.<br /><br />Of course, I'm not talking about you physically now am I?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm talking about your business.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>What's wrong today?</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></span><br /><br />Do you have <span style="font-weight: bold;">quality</span> problems? Did you miss <span style="font-weight: bold;">ship</span> -or another important<span style="font-weight: bold;"> customer </span>date? Are your <span style="font-weight: bold;">machines</span> down frequently? Does your <span style="font-weight: bold;">staff</span> seem incredibly stupid or underperforming?<br /><br />The good news is that these are only symptoms of <span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">(gulp)</span> bigger problems and they can be fixed. The first step of course is understanding the root cause of these issues. Only in solving the root cause will you be able to forever-fix your woes. You may not like what gets uncovered, but facing issues head on is the right thing to do.<br /><br />Finding things wrong you thought were perfect such as finding out that your processes aren't being followed as you thought they were, or finding out that your empathetic staff was not so respectful of others is hard to face. These problems didn't start overnight. Luckily with a little insight - perhaps unbiased by the fresh eyes of an outside consultant, you can start correcting quickly.<br /><br />What is your company's culture like? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When was the last time they looked in the mirror?</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-44882896930069211422010-08-17T07:26:00.001-05:002010-08-17T07:26:00.242-05:00us verses them<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TGgL_ioCTdI/AAAAAAAABXY/swLoS9L67qU/s1600/pointing+fingers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 151px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TGgL_ioCTdI/AAAAAAAABXY/swLoS9L67qU/s200/pointing+fingers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505663730714824146" border="0" /></a><br />For as long as I've been in manufacturing, I have been aware of the 'us verses them' phenomenon. I'm talking about the exchange between new product and equipment engineers who <span style="font-weight: bold;">create</span> stuff <span style="font-weight: bold;">versus</span> the manufacturing engineers who are handed this new stuff and expected to <span style="font-weight: bold;">make </span>product.<br /><br />The 'us' is typically the manufacturing guys who are <span style="font-weight: bold;">handed the short stick</span> when the development guys (them) use up all the customer timing and may not finish their work.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-weight: bold;">The problem arises with expectations I suppose.</blockquote><br /><br />The (new product) engineers expect the manufacturing plant to know everything they know * VERSUS * while the manufacturing engineers expect product and equipment to be delivered in working order.<br /><br />I can see both sides:<br /><br />New engineers are <span style="font-weight: bold;">pushed on timing</span>, timing to their managers or timing to the customer.<br /><br />Manufacturing engineers are often in charge of multiple pieces of equipment and have <span style="font-weight: bold;">less time</span> to work on an incomplete designs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So, how do we fix?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Meeting expectations is really the solution.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How?</span> (some basic solutions often missed)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">FOR THE PRODUCT & EQUIPMENT ENGINEERS</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"><li>Finish your work</li></ul><ul><li>Do the high volume product <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">run-offs</span> to uncover (less than complete) equipment</li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Find variation</span> and fix it</li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Complete documentation</span> (and all 'PSO' materials)</li></ul><ul><li>Create operator instructions <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">specific </span>to your machine/product</li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Train</span> the manufacturing crowd on 'how' to run it <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> how to fix it (note: see above where it shouldn't really need to be fixed at all!)<br /></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Hand off </span>all your documentation to help manufacturing stand on their own</li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">FOR THE RECEIVING MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS</span><br /><ul><li>Hold the developers <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">accountable</span> for delivering complete designs</li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Be available</span> to learn how to use the new equipment</li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Understand basic</span> problem solving and use of basic tools for<span style="font-weight: bold;"> basic</span> fixes</li></ul>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-24487069530127379332010-08-10T07:43:00.002-05:002010-08-10T08:30:01.259-05:00Down in Mexico<div style="text-align: center;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d9qfwTk2sMc&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d9qfwTk2sMc&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Down in Mexico things are different.<br /></div><br />Down in Mexico, people are genuinely interested in who you are. It's also good to know that while extremely hard working, time means much less than it does in the midwest.<br /><br />What does this mean to you?<br /><br />Your Mexican colleagues might not show up to the meeting at the same time as you, nor complete that project as you requested - at the same time, alternatives to your expectations might be caused by how you've communicated such timing and information.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Maybe it's you.</span></blockquote><br /><br />Cultural differences run both ways and it's important to understand <span style="font-weight: bold;">how</span> to say something as much as <span style="font-weight: bold;">what</span> to say.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-33107964278081318702010-07-27T07:16:00.002-05:002010-07-31T10:12:14.315-05:00communication & leadership<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TE3O-P82VAI/AAAAAAAABW4/ngoblw7Fjy0/s1600/0+blog+July+alice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TE3O-P82VAI/AAAAAAAABW4/ngoblw7Fjy0/s320/0+blog+July+alice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498278288918205442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I finally watched the latest Alice in Wonder land film this weekend.<span style=""> </span>With all the special effects and quirky characters, what I remember most actually is a new word, “<span style="font-weight: bold;">muchness</span>” defined early in the movie when The Mad Hatter explained to Alice that she had lost her much-ness, as in she <i style="">had</i> been so much more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I like this new word.<span style=""> </span>Let’s consider the muchness of people, leaders we know.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Have you ever witnessed someone to lose their muchness?<span style=""> </span>…Their moxy?<span style=""> </span>…Their rapport?<span style=""> </span>..Their cover?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It’s amazing how quickly your trust, respect, and “follow-ship” of a leader can be annihilated.<span style=""> </span>I recently witnessed just this phenomenon.<span style=""> </span>In this situation, the leader felt compelled to give grandiose speeches via email paired with long spaces of time between communications and avoided questions from others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Was the intent to be cryptic?<span style=""> </span>Controlling? Passive aggressive? Persuasive?<span style=""> </span>This could also have been someone incredibly busy, prone to thinking out-loud, and not considering the relationship with the team.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then this leader avoided, as in didn’t show up to a critical meeting with her team.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TExyZiZY9qI/AAAAAAAABWw/U0Dkc5f3yQs/s1600/0+blog+July.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 245px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/TExyZiZY9qI/AAAAAAAABWw/U0Dkc5f3yQs/s320/0+blog+July.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497895028168128162" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Unfortunately, whether meaning to or not, her cover was blown, her “muchness” removed, and her “follow-ship” erased.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Any benefit of the doubt was removed due to blatant disrespect.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The trap can be easy to fall into.<span style=""> </span>How you are <span style="font-weight: bold;">perceived</span> by others is <span style="font-weight: bold;">their reality of you</span>. <span style=""> </span>Constant communication helps to correct misconceptions and to keep conversation going.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><blockquote>What opinions are you holding of someone that a conversation might clear up?</blockquote></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>What has caused you to lose “follow-ship” of a leader?</blockquote></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-74528204112907786342010-05-12T10:57:00.003-05:002010-05-12T11:01:50.096-05:00out of the office<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S-rQMsHYw9I/AAAAAAAABWk/V1nX6uuEg_g/s1600/0blog+DO+MORE+moving.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S-rQMsHYw9I/AAAAAAAABWk/V1nX6uuEg_g/s320/0blog+DO+MORE+moving.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470413613814039506" border="0" /></a>We're moving to relocate our office back to Michigan. Check back in a few weeks for new posts on lean imple- mentations and customizations.<br /><br />Have a great lean week!Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-14700661770582977552010-05-04T08:16:00.000-05:002010-05-04T08:16:00.153-05:00the process of product development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9xGHcCxapI/AAAAAAAABWc/V9fmF-Qak0c/s1600/0blog+DO+more+magic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9xGHcCxapI/AAAAAAAABWc/V9fmF-Qak0c/s320/0blog+DO+more+magic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466321141321788050" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Good products and great solutions don’t ‘just happen’.<span style=""> </span>The process of product development is just as important as the results.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">How is this possible, you might ask?<span style=""> </span></blockquote><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is a phrase I use when praising slow food and when talking about product development; here it is: garbage in, garbage out.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It takes specific deliberation to overcome obstacles, create a product that your customer wants, to solve the problems your client didn’t even know existed, to delight your clients into sustained business, and to bring autonomy into your workforce.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I used to have a naysayer on every team I led. You probably have a few yourself... or maybe it's YOU!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've learned over the years that there is always a solution and with structured deliberation combined with calculations, package studies and even a few prototype tests, one can overcome even the most difficult of challenges.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What are you facing?<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-82244678097723605572010-04-27T07:05:00.002-05:002010-04-28T12:48:15.791-05:00Over processed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9h0z_I0OyI/AAAAAAAABWU/ZCmc-7ULqwg/s1600/0blog+do+more+overprocessed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9h0z_I0OyI/AAAAAAAABWU/ZCmc-7ULqwg/s400/0blog+do+more+overprocessed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465246584284658466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p>There is such a thing as being over-processed.<span style=""> </span>You may be experiencing this right now: so many checks and balances that your hands are tied and your projects can’t move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>Aren’t checks and balances good?</blockquote></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In efforts to be lean and to minimize defects, some companies have work</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">ed very hard implementing special reports, long step by step processes, and multiple authorizations to find themselves spending a lot of time** doing work unrelated to design and producing product.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is tempting to adopt ready made processes or to copy by benchmarking quality and development processes of sister companies.<span style=""> </span>Supposedly these other companies have error proofed and sweated out the details of their process to be efficient, right?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9h0ZMnrX1I/AAAAAAAABWM/lJbjRunQi3s/s1600/0blog+doesnt+fit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S9h0ZMnrX1I/AAAAAAAABWM/lJbjRunQi3s/s200/0blog+doesnt+fit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465246124047294290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is akin to borrowing clothes or buying off the rack.<span style=""> </span>To borrow clothes from an ol</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">der sister or buy off the rack at the mall will result in pants that need hemming, a fit around the waist that isn’t quite right, perhaps a shirt that is too long or the sleeves too short.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Basically, the clothes don’t fit as they should.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It’s the same with processes in your organization.<span style=""> </span>Buying on-line or one-size-fits-all development systems will likely cause you a lot more grief and aggravation in the long run verses carefully creating processes that work for your team and your product.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><blockquote>**time = money. How are you spending yours?</blockquote></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-33273611231576280802010-04-20T07:02:00.000-05:002010-04-20T07:02:00.187-05:00What do you make?<div style="text-align: center;">money, car parts, plastic things, a difference..<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What does your company make?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">What do you make?</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.taylormali.com/">Taylor Mali</a> talks about what teachers make as performed in this live poetry reading:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xuFnP5N2uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0xuFnP5N2uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-13665810512184158372010-04-13T07:17:00.003-05:002010-04-13T07:17:00.879-05:00What's wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6e1nsppavI/AAAAAAAABVU/s0tQLhgBTeA/s1600-h/0blog+whats+wrong.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6e1nsppavI/AAAAAAAABVU/s0tQLhgBTeA/s320/0blog+whats+wrong.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451525567560641266" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is a lot of focus on fixing what is wrong in our businesses.<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Mistakes<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Failures</span><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"> </span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""></span>PPM<span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">Inefficiency</span><span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Fat</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I do this in my business.<span style=""> </span>In fact, I get a lot of business to come in to ‘fix’ what is <span style="font-style: italic;">wrong</span>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">As a kid I learned fast to make do with what I was given.<span style=""> </span>I learned to make do with what was known.<span style=""> </span>I learned how to fix what was broken. I learned that their is <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> a positive solution.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I still apply this thinking and these lessons today making something work or developing something new with known quantities and information.<span style=""> </span>Even in development, we know a lot – and are simply leveraging the little bit we know to solve or create something unique.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I dare say in focusing on what is ‘safe’, to focus on what is ‘<span style="font-weight: bold;">great</span>’, we thereby focus on what makes us strong as well as the strengths of others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">By focusing on what is good and expanding on what makes you great now, we can move forward to an even better place.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A better place to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A better colleague to work with.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A better team to leverage.</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;">A better product.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">A bigger bank account.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);"></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-12923664043238402222010-04-06T07:02:00.001-05:002010-04-08T11:35:22.973-05:00Happy Easter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6eyPR4S3GI/AAAAAAAABU0/_iMqTLgCEn0/s1600-h/0blog+Easter+1.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6eyPR4S3GI/AAAAAAAABU0/_iMqTLgCEn0/s320/0blog+Easter+1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451521849522576482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm taking a little hiatus this week in </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">cele- bration of Easter.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Easter to you!<br /><br />Many blessings to you.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6eyQZSPt-I/AAAAAAAABVE/11_IHKD5TTI/s1600-h/0blog+Easter+3.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6eyQZSPt-I/AAAAAAAABVE/11_IHKD5TTI/s320/0blog+Easter+3.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451521868690339810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you for your support and reader- ship as I develop this blog and my business!</span>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-68864006069775793052010-03-30T07:57:00.001-05:002010-03-30T07:57:00.157-05:00SFW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6ev17JE7eI/AAAAAAAABUs/vajrHV0xl9k/s1600-h/0blog+unsafe+work.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S6ev17JE7eI/AAAAAAAABUs/vajrHV0xl9k/s320/0blog+unsafe+work.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451519214898965986" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:.9in 1.0in .8in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:2050835741; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:565376414 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What’s <span style="font-weight: bold;">S</span>afe <span style="font-weight: bold;">F</span>or <span style="font-weight: bold;">W</span>ork?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/">Seth Godin</a> wrote a little query about <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/03/sfw.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29">this</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I’m sure you get them, personal emails to your work address.<span style=""> </span>It continually surprises me how many people still do not establish nor use their personal email for cutesy forwards.<span style=""> </span>If you’re lucky, the sender will warn you not to open up in your workplace as the contents will be visually or audibly distasteful.<span style=""> </span>This is typically abbreviated with, “NSFW”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Seth counters with a marvelous idea to consider what is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> SFW</span>.<span style=""> </span>What is safe for your work?<span style=""> </span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><blockquote>What is great?</blockquote></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What are the good ideas to consider in the work place?<span style=""> </span>I’m talking about the things to do when considering the great ideas and people you come across of course.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If I were to start a list, it might look like this:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Considering where your colleagues are coming from when they express an idea or opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Honoring the devil’s advocate point of view so to improve upon your original idea.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Giving the benefit of the doubt to <a href="http://dharmaconsulting.com/empathy">everyone</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Asking questions first before jumping to conclusions (before jumping down a colleague’s throat)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Realizing that the people you’ve grown to dislike for one reason or another (perhaps because they don’t get what is SFW!) do not simply ‘go away’.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Letting go of your colleague’s faults, accepting them as they are, utilizing and taking advantage of their strong suits.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Focusing on your strengths to better yourself and move the company forward.</span></li></ul><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What more would you add that is SFW?<o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674654948628991901.post-60081818619181928212010-03-23T07:05:00.000-05:002010-03-23T07:05:00.452-05:00goals vs. goals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S4gLRzN4lhI/AAAAAAAABTA/__RyewsLDeI/s1600-h/0+blog+goals+vs+unhappy+people.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_X4dGdmwuDpg/S4gLRzN4lhI/AAAAAAAABTA/__RyewsLDeI/s320/0+blog+goals+vs+unhappy+people.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442612550111368722" border="0" /></a><br />I teach a class on problem solving.<br /><br />Actually, I teach a few classes on problem solving: 9-step which is <span style="font-weight: bold;">reactive</span> problem solving and the other is Advance Product Quality Planning which as you know is <span style="font-weight: bold;">proactive</span> and can eliminate the need for reactive problem solving if executed correctly.<br /><br />The most common mistake I see in the classroom and in manufacturing, is confusing the result of a problem with it's cause. If one jumps to conclusions too quickly, you'll find yourself missing out on the simplest solutions, and often thinking in circles or missing the point all together.<br /><br />This happens in companies when they start to improve their <span style="font-weight: bold;">bottom line</span> too. Perhaps a company starts with 'make more money' as their primary goal.<br /><br />It's not a bad goal, even I have to admit!<br /><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">We're all in business to make money, that's irrefutable. </blockquote><br /><br />We're in business foremost however to provide a product or service in a very particular way.<br /><br />Let's just make a quick list of how your company can make more money:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">GO!</span><br /><br />1) spend less money<br />2) eliminate overtime<br />3) create higher margins<br />4) downsize the staff<br /><br />and how about:<br /><br />5) create the best possible customer experience<br />6) maximize product design for quality & purchasing power<br />7) enable employees to fit their duties into a 'normal' work day<br />8) evolve continuously with new products & services<br />9) launch, process, and manufacture products & services flawlessly<br /><br /><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Which sounds like more fun?<br /></blockquote><br />Which sounds more successful long term to your end goal?<br /><br />Which gets your whole staff involved, <span style="font-weight: bold;">motivated</span>, and proud of their work?<br /><br />How many <span style="font-weight: bold;">solutions </span>have you already come up with to attain goals 5 - 9?Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05388487387401307132noreply@blogger.com0