Resources, Articles & Updates

Jeffrey Liker has published v.2 of The Toyota Way, a great book the first time and even better now. Worth returning to the content and the wisdom in it, at some other point.This note is just about the beauty of the title, based on reflections and reviews prompted by the passing of Normal … [Read more...] about Remembering Normal Bodek and His Toyota Way Management Principle

Compressing Feedback Cycle Times to stay on Target and Maintain Internal SynchronizationSummary: How do ensure that the organizations of which we are part succeed?  Fast, frequent, and often fine-grained feedback to keep our collective effort on track and to keep our individual efforts … [Read more...] about How to keep from going off track and out of whack: feedback – fast, frequent, and fine grained

In May 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy's leadership may well have been imagining the celebrations and accolades to be showered on them in the coming weeks. They had (what they must have thought was) a fantastic plan of surprise attack at Midway Island, the coup de grâce follow up to the devastation … [Read more...] about Succeeding in periods of abrupt change …

Slow down (in development) to go fast (in deployment and production). Local experience gives example to this point and might provide insight to the many of use trying to develop and deliver value at speed. (Boston Globe article and white paper).The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority ("MBTA") … [Read more...] about How do you get speed in technology intensive, engineering heavy situations?

The Honorable Paul O’Neill, former CEO of Alcoa and 72 nd  Secretary of the Treasury passed away last weekend.  He’ll be eulogized fairly and enthusiastically for his stewardship of Alcoa, which enjoyed huge success during his tenure, and for his public outspokenness during and about … [Read more...] about Remembering Paul O’Neill

The suppression of bad news, when consequential, is easy to decry. Yet, doing so is more common than we care. Understanding its source and overcoming its occurrence is key to having enterprise dynamics supportive of agility, resilience, and reliability and ultimately great performance. (a version of … [Read more...] about Willingness to Seek Bad News: Key leadership skill for crisis management…