Comments on: Production goals, Feedback, and Finding Nemo

By: John Hunter

John Hunter — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

It is too bad that so many people decide that anything that improves efficiency can only apply to rote task. This idea is completely untrue. They confuse bad management with efficiency improvement. Since bad management talks about improving efficiency and destroys creativity through disrespect for people. Good lean management is, of course, very valuable for creative work. http://management.curiouscatblog.net/2005/11/16/managing-innovation/
http://management.curiouscatblog.net/2007/07/04/process-improvement-and-innovation/
http://management.curiouscatblog.net/2009/05/29/pixar-movie-management-magic/

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:41:06 +0000

Joe,

You’re dead on with your point about accepting there *could* be a plan. In my experience, most white collar workers don’t want to accept that there could be a plan, that any portion of their work is predictable, and that PDCA has a role. Instead, the inefficiency is accepted as “the cost of doing business.” But there has to be a better way….

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:39:58 +0000

Jason,

Thanks for the link to Martin Fowler’s article. Exhaustive and incredibly useful in painting a picture of how a good stand up meeting should be run.

By: Joe Ely

Joe Ely — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:38:05 +0000

Excellent post, Dan. This illustrates the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle which is so fundamental. The difference is this group acknowledged there COULD BE a Plan!! So, that stated the plan, then checked it. By doing daily (rather than in a “monthly status report”) they shortened the loop.

It can be done. And it starts with accepting there can be a plan.

By: Jason Yip

Jason Yip — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:36:52 +0000

http://martinfowler.com/articles/itsNotJustStandingUp.html