What can German parachutes teach us about good management? In the case of a recent visit to a German parachute manufacturing company, it was a metaphorical reminder of the two important management principles, delegation and control. Consider the case of the parachutist. Is there any function in your business that is more essential to management...
Everyone in the office always arrived well before starting time and remained until all the days work was done, even if that required some extra time. There never had been a need for a time clock or a sign-in sheet. The business was regulated by what needed to be done, there was a strong sense of commitment. As the business grew, however, things...
Life is full of lines. We start out coloring between the lines, then we graduate to waiting in line, standing behind the line and keeping our eyes on the bottom line. Let me introduce you to yet another line, the "we/they line". It's not quite as visible as some of the others, but it's always present in any organization with more than a handful...
In aviation there is a concept known as the "performance envelop." The "performance envelop" is defined by a number of operating criteria such as speed and altitude in which a plane can safely perform. Most pilots operate comfortably within the envelop. A few exceptional pilots will push the envelop, operating at levels attainable by anyone, but...
Nature abhors a vacuum. So does the electorate and so do your employees. Where ever a vacuum exists, something, and not always the best thing, will fill the void. A Republican television commentator grabs 30% of the vote against a sitting President; a Democrat withdraws from the race and nearly wins an election three weeks later; a political...
In the movies the good guys never run out of bullets. But in the real world its a different story. When we strap on our six shooters each morning and head to the office, we've only got a few bullets in each gun. We can't afford to shoot at everything that moves, we need to chose our targets carefully. In order to improve performance it's...
On the surface baseball is a simple game; throw the ball, hit the ball, and catch the ball. Much like many businesses however, scratch beneath that surface and you will find a vastly complicated game. Statistics play a big part in baseball. At first, the measures of performance were fairly simple. A player's productivity was measured by his...
What makes a tailored garment look and feel so fine? Details! What creates the ambiance of a world class resort? Details! What distinguishes gourmet dining from just another over priced meal. Details, details, details. Pay attention to the details. Taken separately, they may be just details. Taken together however, the details will determine the...
B. F. Skinner, one of the most influential and controversial psychologists of the 20th century, passed away several weeks ago. Known as the dean of modern behaviorists, Skinner's theories were based on the premise that behavior is determined by the individual's environment. In his theories of operant conditioning, Skinner stated that behavior...
Can we talk? Yes, but........ Technology has created a communications revolution Despite the various technologies that have contributed to the development of FAX messages, voice mail, and desktop publishing, the "meeting" remains the central arena for business communications. You never hear anyone say, "I don't spend enough time in meetings" but...