When major unanticipated events occur, they often force us to re-prioritize, if only for the time being. For example, within the broad subject areas of data analysis, planning, and organizational performance, there may be some activities that are postponed until things become less chaotic. However, unforeseen events may also heighten the importance of other activities, […]
It's all about Change. Isn't it? The word “change”, by itself, can trigger a variety of immediate emotions in people, and not all of them are pleasant. This seems to be the case more than ever in today’s world. And you have probably heard it said that “people don’t like change” or “it is hard […]
Having trouble getting started on that Business Plan for your new service? Have an idea for a major process change, but don’t know how to plan it? Try using an Effect and Cause Diagram. Process improvement practitioners may think that’s a typo. They’ll claim the correct name is the Cause and Effect Diagram. Actually, the […]
In essence, strategic planning is about changing from a current state to a desired future state. The better you can understand and articulate both, the easier it is to identify the necessary changes (Strategies and Tactics) that will be needed to move from current state to future state. This is where information and analysis play […]
When we think of information, we often think of numbers, data, maybe even statistical methods that can help us assess the numbers. This kind of quantitative information is critical to leading and managing organizations and work units. But there is another kind of information, more qualitative in nature, which is also very valuable in research […]
Since many organizations have fiscal years that end somewhere between December and June, Fall through early Winter is a popular time of year for convening stakeholders to create or update a Strategic Plan. And, if you are considering engaging in Strategic Planning this Fall, now is the time to begin preparing. The preparation is critical […]
Listening to an early summer storm the other evening, I heard one of the longest sustained rolls of distant thunder I have ever heard. I am sure it lasted at least 20 seconds, and I was struck by how long it took to completely fade out. But it did. And before too long, there was […]
We tend to think of process improvement as deeply entrenched in the day to day operations of a work group or organization. And with good reason. History has shown there is a lot of room for improvement at this most detailed level of work. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities at other levels as […]
In Focus Groups, we are usually asking questions about a current product or service or one that is in development. However, they can be an effective tool for learning more about what unmet needs and wants your customers may have. Going further, they can help you and your customers begin to identify needs and wants […]