Standard work I found an interesting post about standardisation in public services. The post argues that standardisation doesn’t work in the service industry. Each customer or citizen is different and because each citizen is different they want different things. So if you standardise everything and then force your staff to follow the standard process […]
Rule 7: If the Work is Important Write it Down
I have a file on my laptop It is a rather sad file, it is called “Sunday Night”. I travel for work and on Sunday nights I pack a bag for Monday morning. The file reads a little like this… Sunday Night: Taxi, Train Times, Water Bottle, Hat, Scarf, Gloves, Coat Monday: Shirt, Jacket, Trousers, Belt, […]
A Splendid Waste of Time
Is management by wandering around a good thing? I was talking to a friend of mine today. He used to work for the Royal Navy. He navigated ships in his 20’s. Apparently getting H.M.S. Ocean around the Isle of White and into the Solent without sinking some fool in a yacht is no mean feat. Particularly […]
Process Controls or Commandments?
The other day I phoned my IT “help” desk. They were polite, calm and pleasant but totally useless. They wouldn’t do the one thing I asked them to do. My request wasn’t unreasonable. In fact the man on the other end of the line agreed with me, it was the obvious way forward. But.. The […]
Clear Work Instructions, an Eight Point Plan
When writing work instructions, you get points for clarity, not style. Instead of waxing lyrical about the customer journey and decisive moments, just make your point. Here are eight ways to do that: Use a clear heading to explain the task If you can’t explain the task succinctly what chance do people following the instructions […]