You can tell when it is early January at my fitness club. In addition to the regular crowd shuffling in this morning were a healthy number of unfamiliar faces, presumably resolved to make this the year they become fit. While for their sake I hope they all stick around throughout the year it’s more likely […]
Beyond Resolutions: Lean Thinking as Commitment Read More »
Here’s a quote from personal development guru Jim Rohn that applies to enterprises even more than individuals. “The goal of this human adventure is productivity; pursuing the full development of all your potential. To see what all you can do with all that you have been given.” Too many talented people have been frustrated by
The Goal of This Human Adventure Read More »
When and where does the 2016 Boston Marathon begin? People familiar with running might respond it begins the morning of the third Monday of April in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. And while the mobility impaired athletes leave the start line at 8:50 followed by the elite women runners at 9:30 and elite men runners at 10:00 for
The #Lean Thinker as Endurance Athlete Read More »
To understand how ingrained resource thinking is in our society versus flow thinking, consider how the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies the building industry. Construction, comprised of the people that build bridges, highways, and buildings is considered a sector within the broad classification of Goods-Producing Industries. Architecture and engineering, comprised of the people that
Construction: An Industry Divided (According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) Read More »
The sign to the left is very clear. The sign is also inaccurate, as jurors are permitted to bring cell phones, tablets and laptops into the courthouse. The story behind the sign is that the electronics exclusion policy was instituted for people other than jurors as the devices are unwanted in the courtrooms. Jurors spend large
When Policy Gets in the Way of Purpose Read More »
In his book The Beginning of Infinity physicist David Deutsch uses the contrast between ancient Athens and Sparta to illustrate the distinction between open and closed societies. Athens was an open society as it was a place where for a time criticism and innovation flourished. Athens could grow because it was open to using criticism to
Was the War Between Athens and Sparta a Result of #Lean vs. Bulk Thinking? Read More »
Plus: Meeting finished early; Lead journeyman successfully filled in for absent foreman. Delta: Start the meeting on time.
Plus Delta: Weekly Planning Meeting Read More »
Plus: Now at 75% Percent Plan Complete across entire project; A phase plan with continuous flow is now in place; Lunch to celebrate field team is planned; Safety report addressed successes as well as concerns; New trade contractor present at meeting. Delta: Replace 2015 wall calendar with 2016 wall calendar; End the meeting on time; Silence all mobile phones.
Plus Delta: Weekly Planning Meeting Read More »
A couple of definitions: Journey: an act of traveling from one place to another. Expedition: a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration or scientific research. For people taking their Lean work seriously the intensity of the second description appears to be more accurate.
#Lean Journey or #Lean Expedition? Read More »
I was listening to a transcript from a CEO interview that discussed the integration of disabled people into a manufacturing plant. What caught my attention is that while disabled workers were assigned to operations which their disability did not prevent them from performing, these people had insights into how to improve their operations to even better
Wheelchairs on the Construction Site Read More »
