Tracking Variables: Differences in Theory and Practice Punish the Bottom Line

Bill Conway is an avid sports fan. I remember him talking about a conversation he’d had on a plane with an National Football League coach about kicking field goals and all the variables that influenced whether or not the kick was good: how far back the ball was, how much to the left or right of center, the snap, the hold, the kick, the wind, the condition of the field, etc. How well the kicker and holder understood and managed the variables – some controllable, others not – affected the likelihood of making the field goal.

I remember thinking that field-goal kicking involved more variables than I had originally thought – similar to trying to solve work or process-related problems.

Using another sports-related thought, Yogi Berra once observed, “In theory, theory and practice are the same. But in practice, they’re not.” Find out where your business practice varies from the theory and what variations are having the greatest impact on your success. Controlling these variables will move you closer to your goal line.

Breaking-Down Complicated Work Processes into Bite-Sized Pieces - What Do You Think?

Work and work processes can sometimes be complex, thus making improvement efforts more difficult and even overwhelming.

A good example of this is our nation's health care system. As chronicled in a recent USA Today article, our health care system is extremely complex and riddled with waste. Even worse, as documented and detailed by the article's collaborative team of authors, current efforts by the Federal Government as well as those dating back to the early Clinton years have been ineffective. "The complexity of the system, the pressure from chronic diseases, the shortfall in preventive care, the high costs, the competing demands - and the life-or-death stakes..." have made it very hard for Presidents and policymakers alike, they say; with no definitive improvement plan in sight.

An Effective Alternative?
Given the complexity of the problem, why not take a manageable piece and get going on that, rather than addressing the whole system? We have seen this approach work effectively in many situations, and look forward to hearing your opinions or experiences!

Are You "Destroying" Work?

To many people's surprise, the concept of "destroying work" can be a good one!

A common phrase used within the nuclear power industry, "destroying work" refers to the destruction (or elimination) of unnecessary or non-productive work - the waste. The word "destroy" connotes an elevated sense of urgency, and is perfectly aligned with Conway Management's The Right Way to Manage© practice of identifying and eliminating waste.

In fact, our approach frequently involves an "assault" on waste!

So, however you might like to phrase it, the act of continuously and aggressively studying work and work processes, identifying waste and eliminating waste is the foundation for continuous improvement and sustaining long-term gains.