A Case Study of a Dysfunctional Culture Nick Wallis writes a story that should be a work of science fiction. Like Jurassic Park, he takes a ridiculous premise but then plays the idea through in a totally believable way. Nobody could recreate the dinosaurs, but good fiction takes a bizarre proposition and makes the outcome […]
The Most Profitable Activity in the World
Collaboration The iPhone is — arguably — the most profitable product in the world. Since it was launched in 2007 it has sold over 700 million units. In my household alone we have 4 of the damned things. I hasten to add my daughter’s phones are hand-me downs, but all the same. The iPhone 11 […]
Rule 16: Communicate
Operations work two ways: 1. Products and services flow one way: Insurance claims are paid Pizzas are delivered Passengers are transported Diagnoses are issued 2. Money and Information flow the other: Orders are placed Invoices are settled Requirements are specified Complaints are made Like yin and yang The flows are interconnected and interdependent, you need them both if the […]
Trust and Paperwork
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: […]
The Childish Games Managers Play
There is a game called Chinese Whispers, I am sure you have played it. All you do is line a group of people up and ask them to whisper a message from one to another along the chain. Each time it is repeated the message morphs; progressively degrading the further it gets from its source. […]