Cogitus Interruptus is the disease of the modern workplace. Its symptoms are familiar to any executive: the inability to complete a thought or a task without losing focus under the onslaught of relentless interruptions. It results in a lack of efficiency, a loss of time to solve problems, to think strategically, to plan, to dream – to get your organization from here to there. Continue reading →

“Innovate or die.” That’s the mandate of the global economy these days. And though you’ve been trying to create a culture of innovation at your firm, you’ve had little success. Why do some companies seem to be breeding grounds of innovation, while yours is, at best, a breeding ground for mosquitoes? Continue reading →

Ever been in a 60 minute meeting that ended up lasting longer than a Robert Byrd fillibuster? Don’t despair; there’s hope for keeping meetings short enough to get out in time for lunch. Continue reading →

When you’re dealing with knowledge workers in an office, critical process inefficiencies aren’t as visible as they are in a factory. Value stream mapping is only part of the answer. You also need to see and eliminate the waste inherent in how people work. Here’s a guide to some of the questions you should be asking. Continue reading →

Imagine running a production line without knowing each day what to make and in what quantities. The lack of that critical information guarantees uneven production, overburdened workers, and waste — a disaster in the world of Lean. Yet this is precisely the situation for most knowledge workers, even those in lean organizations. Continue reading →