Process Improvement Archives

The Problem with Solutions

1 February, 2015 by James Lawther 6 Comments

Clever management phrases When I was a graduate trainee I had a manager who loved to say: “Do not come to me with problems, come with solutions” He believed it was a clever and motivational sort of thing to say. It would make me more creative, I would start to think ahead and develop my own solutions, and — […]

Trust and Paperwork

21 December, 2014 by James Lawther 7 Comments

Imagine you make bicycles for a living You have a supplier who provides you with all the bike chains you use. Every week, without fail you get a shipment of chains into your factory and every month you pay for them. How do you pay for your chains? Method 1. The three-way match: Employ somebody to match up: […]

Self Limiting Beliefs

13 December, 2014 by James Lawther 7 Comments

What do you believe? Here is an interesting little sports story for you… At the start of 1954 the world record for running a mile was held by Gunder Hägg. He ran it in 4 minutes 1.4 seconds in 1945 and his record had stood for 9 years. It was widely believed that it was impossible for a […]

The Productivity Equation

7 December, 2014 by James Lawther 4 Comments

We all want more productivity… The world abounds with productivity experts of one sort or another: Outsource this Streamline that Squeeze the other We obsess about reducing our cost base. Taking out heads and slashing expense. But we are missing a trick? How do you define productivity? Using a little advanced algebra (if I say so myself), […]

The Great Process Improvement Secret

19 October, 2014 by James Lawther 8 Comments

How to be a Process Guru What is the one simple truth the Process Improvement Gurus know? Just flick through the SlideShare and I will spill the beans… Full screen is best. Unfortunately, if you are reading this via e-Mail you will have to visit SlideShare to find out. In full Technicolor glory. If you enjoyed this […]