There are two ways to solve a problem: First order problem solving: Also known as the quick fix. This type of problem solving removes the issue. E.g. getting the information you need to finish a task. But it doesn’t do anything to stop the problem happening again. Fixing a problem this way often causes a […]
Do You Understand the System?
The pressure is on Your cost base is spiralling upwards, your boss is squealing, and his boss is squealing louder. Unless you get a firm grip of the situation you are going to get lots of “executive help”. You need to do something and do it now. When caught like this it is easy — perhaps […]
The Sure Thing
Pain and despair Imagine you run a servicing centre. You have a staff of 100 who fill in forms to order things for customers. Maybe they process applications Maybe they fill in patient’s details Maybe they capture the details of car repairs You get the gist of it… Lots of people, lots of information and lots of screw […]
Books Won’t Make You Clever
Correlation does not imply causation There is an apocryphal tale about an inner city education department in the American Mid West. In their efforts to increase children’s performance they commissioned an extensive study of the socioeconomic environment their students were raised in, to see what impact it had on a child’s educational prospects. The study delivered […]
Are You a Lazy Manager?
I’m all for blanket policies, they make life easy, everybody knows where they stand: Everybody on the same pay scale Everybody entitled to the same amount of holiday Everybody gets the same computer If you treat everyone fairly then everyone feels fairly treated. But I’m not so keen on blanket solutions A few years ago […]