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The Strategic Comms Centre of Excellence

9 October, 2017 by James Lawther Leave a Comment

Management Speak

Management Speak I reached out to my boss first thing this morning.  I had to square the circle about one of our strategic imperatives.  Fortunately he cascaded the relevant information.  He had the helicopter view, I was too busy searching for low hanging fruit. If there is one thing that is guaranteed to set me […]

Filed Under: Blog, Employee Engagement Tagged With: communication, credibility, Dilbert, jargon

Variation or Standardisation?

4 October, 2017 by James Lawther Leave a Comment

Standardisation

Standard work The process guys will tell you that you should standardise and reduce variation. Variation is a bad thing. The customer experience guys will tell you every interaction is different.  No customer is the same. Variation is a good thing. Which camp is right? The case for allowing variation Some situations call for a […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: service design, standardisation, variation, video

The Dark Side of Data

28 September, 2017 by James Lawther 2 Comments

Data-centricity Organisations are tripping over themselves to become data-centric.  They are busy investing in business intelligence and analytical infrastructures.  There is a thriving market for analysts and data scientists, accountants and actuaries, people who can pore over the numbers and provide insight. Data is the new gold, businesses are spending money like drunk sailors. Data […]

Filed Under: Blog, Operations Analysis Tagged With: blame, command and control, data is not information, management style, measurement, video

A Culture of Fear, Intimidation and Retaliation

21 September, 2017 by James Lawther 8 Comments

Nervous Teacher

The scandal In 2011, a state report to the Governor’s office in Georgia claimed that there was “organised and systemic misconduct” in 44 of Atlanta’s 56 schools.  2 years later 35 teachers, head teachers and administrative staff were brought to trial and charged with racketeering and other offences. The smoking gun The accusations revolved around […]

Filed Under: Blog, Employee Engagement Tagged With: command and control, conformity, data is not information, fear and anxiety, Goodhart's law, key performance indicators, performance management, political intervention, poor service, targets

Management Cardboard

11 September, 2017 by James Lawther 2 Comments

Management Cardboard

Management control Rather longer ago than I care to admit, I worked for an FMCG company.  I worked in R&D, and developed new frozen food products for a living. There were two things we worried about: The contents – the product that customers pay for, the fish finger or ice cream. The container – the […]

Filed Under: Blog, Process Improvement Tagged With: bureaucracy, command and control, complexity, waste

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