Q: When is it easier to ship a $600 electronic device across the country and back, than it is to change a field in a database?
A: When you are a phone company.
This is a true story, and one that perfectly illustrates how IT systems, when implemented, can actually make a company less flexible and less able to cope with unpredictable things. Information technology can actually make a company more fragile. Continue reading
If you are sending information to a group of people, you should FIRST post that information on-line, and THEN you should email everyone about it. Today I experienced a classic violation of this guideline, and while the damage is not huge, it is so pointless. I am documenting this case as an example of what not to do. Continue reading
I think it is time to start holding “flipshops.” I have been a big fan of flipping the classroom because it makes better use of teacher’s time, and the students benefit. The same thing can be brought to conferences and workshops. Continue reading
A basic assumption so central to running an organization that we never question it. What if it is impossible to collect process knowledge? The thought follows from Steve Denning’s excellent article “Can Knowledge Be Collected? Lessons From The Health Sector” in Forbes this month. Continue reading
Max Pucher made an excellent post on “The Value of Failure” touching on a theme I have seen echoed around a bit lately. Knowledge work is not predictable. A professional will learn to do the right thing in the right situation, but along the way there are going to be some mistakes they learn from. The key to surviving in the coming decade will be a culture that accepts failure as a path to success. Continue reading
“Chasing the Rabbit” by Steven J Spear is a book about what he calls high velocity organizations. Velocity is equated with success because these companies have the agility to respond and capture business. It is not just speed. These organizations are able to capture quality.
I was interested because someone had told me this was the secret to highly reliable organizations. The book covers in detail the US Navy nuclear program which has 5700 reactor years of use without a single nuclear mishap. Continue reading
Thinking Matters 