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Strategic Advice for the McCain-Palin Campaign
I am always on the lookout for examples in the news of challenges that people have aligning strategy and tactics, because quality management based on a plan that’s not aligned with the strategy is bound to fail. I found one of these examples this morning in the Washington Post, encouraging the Republican ticket to shift…
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Does PowerPoint Make You Stupid?
I remember a few years ago hearing about a study that claimed using Microsoft PowerPoint makes you dumb. On the basis that effective communication can either enhance or hinder quality improvement efforts, I decided to look back today and see a) where that information came from, and b) if it’s accurate. Given that over 400…
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What are Core Values?
Core values are statements describing a clear and compelling direction for motivating and inspiring people around common beliefs. Individuals and organizations can each have core values. In the organizations, the core values provide a common basis for problem-solving and dispute resolution. This is an integral part of building the organizational or corporate culture, especially if…
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Epic Quality Fails
One of the commonly applied definitions of quality is that a delivered product (or project) conforms to the specifications originally used to define it. If conformance to specifications does not occur, or if the product fails to satisfy its intended use, then a defect is present. There’s no better way to drive this point home…
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Flow for Organizational Effectiveness & Increasing Innovation
Finding “work-life balance” has become a theme in modern life. According to WebMD, there are five steps to achieve work-life balance: 1) set good priorities (this requires knowing what you value), 2) eliminate unnecessary distractions, 3) set boundaries, 4) accept help, and 5) plan times for fun and reflection. The Mayo Clinic provides even more…
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Low-Tech, High Impact Innovation
Did you know that sometimes, a simple solution can be orders of magnitude more effective than an advanced, modern one? The term for this is “appropriate technology” – and the concept of appropriate technology is particularly relevant when you want to innovate in a developing economy. But it can also provide a blueprint for innovation…
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DMAIC Demystified
The DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) methodology is one of the cornerstones of a Six Sigma project. It provides a useful heuristic that can remind you how to structure your project when you apply Six Sigma. This is important for two reasons. First, by reminding you to DEFINE your project’s goals, its deliverables to external customers, its deliverables…
Quality and Innovation 