I love management jargon. I found this today and believe me, you need one: “an oobeya room” An oobeya room is a large room specifically set up to run a project from. As you enter the room it contains: 1. The objective 2. A representation of the expected output (a graphic or model so everybody […]
This is Mine that is Yours
We decide how we spend money in three areas: 1. Purchasing: which materials we buy. 2. Specification: what product or service we offer. 3. Efficiency: how well we convert raw materials into finished goods. These activities are controlled by the Purchasing, Brand Development and Operations departments. They have the ability to make changes that will […]
The Mother of Protracted PowerPoints
Peter Bregman writes an interesting post in the HBR blog about wasted time in large organisation. He points out that employees of large organisations spend hours and hours with “unnecessary meetings, unimportant emails, and protracted PowerPoints”. He suggests a three question test to guide us on whether or not we should become involved: 1. Am […]
Discipline
I was given a book to read, “The Discipline of Market Leaders“. I am sure you have heard about it. The authors state that there are three key strategies you can take in any market: 1. Operational Excellence “deliver a combination of quality, price, and ease of purchase that no one else in their market […]
Emotional Sub-Optimisation
I received a flyer from an organic food company. One of their selling points is that they keep packaging to a minimum. Sounds sensible. Less waste in the environment. When you look into it though it isn’t quite that easy. According to the Advisory Committee on Packaging:– 1.5 grams of plastic extends the shelf life […]