business
A Mindless Worker is a Happy Worker
One thing I know from experience: when people are given a chance to participate in creating something good, solving a problem, and play a role in adding value through the use of their mind, hands, and heart, good things happen. Indeed, morale increases and a type of magic takes place – a feeling joy can be seen in people’s faces.
One thing I know from experience: when people are given a chance to participate in creating something good, solving a problem, and play a role in adding value through the use of their mind, hands, and heart, good things happen. Indeed, morale increases and a type of magic takes place – a feeling joy can be seen in people’s faces.
Gretchen Rubin – Part I
Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project, answers reader’s questions – your questions – on this multi-series post on her Happiness Project.
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Comment by Porter on February 10, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
Hi, Gretchen -
There is a debate on whether humans are truly altruistic. What are your thoughts on altruism, and how does it relate to the feeling of happiness that we get in doing something for others.
Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project, answers reader’s questions – your questions – on this multi-series post on her Happiness Project.
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Comment by Porter on February 10, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
Hi, Gretchen -
There is a debate on whether humans are truly altruistic. What are your thoughts on altruism, and how does it relate to the feeling of happiness that we get in doing something for others.
Less is Less with Jason Fried
Most of you know who Jason Fried is – the founder of 37Signals and the author of several books, including Rework, his most recent publication.
He’s on shmula.com to answer your questions – on Lean Thinking, Design, Less is Less, Customer Development, and other principles he lives by and encourages others to consider in his book Rework.
Most of you know who Jason Fried is – the founder of 37Signals and the author of several books, including Rework, his most recent publication.
He’s on shmula.com to answer your questions – on Lean Thinking, Design, Less is Less, Customer Development, and other principles he lives by and encourages others to consider in his book Rework.
Cost Savings for a Fortune 500 Company
Cummins Inc.1 reported their Q4 2009 earnings call today. In that call, they reported a cost savings of over $500MM due to their emphasis on Lean Thinking and Six Sigma. In the words of Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc:
Cummins Inc.1 reported their Q4 2009 earnings call today. In that call, they reported a cost savings of over $500MM due to their emphasis on Lean Thinking and Six Sigma. In the words of Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc:
Just Dial “0″ (”Zero”)
On the way to work this morning, a commercial on National Public Radio (NPR) caught my attention. It was a commercial for Ally Bank and one phrase piqued my interest (I’m paraphrasing):
To open an account, call xxx-xxx-xxxx and to talk to a real person, push “0″ anytime.
In the radio commercial, they emphasized “real person”. Interesting.
On the way to work this morning, a commercial on National Public Radio (NPR) caught my attention. It was a commercial for Ally Bank and one phrase piqued my interest (I’m paraphrasing):
To open an account, call xxx-xxx-xxxx and to talk to a real person, push “0″ anytime.
In the radio commercial, they emphasized “real person”. Interesting.
Freedom within Framework
A fence keeps us safe from harm – often, from harming ourselves and from harming others. In deployments of Lean Thinking at organizations, the principle of Freedom within Framework describes our approach well.
Disambiguating the Fence
A fence can be understood a few different ways:
- A Silo: A fence marks “mine” from “yours”. This is NOT what we are talking about.
A fence keeps us safe from harm – often, from harming ourselves and from harming others. In deployments of Lean Thinking at organizations, the principle of Freedom within Framework describes our approach well.
Disambiguating the Fence
A fence can be understood a few different ways:
- A Silo: A fence marks “mine” from “yours”. This is NOT what we are talking about.
Emergency Room (ER) Wait Times
The Emergency Room plays a vital role in patient care and plays an important role in communities and society. According to the CDC, there were 119.2 million visits to the Emergency Room in 2007 1. Indeed, the demand for emergency room care is great.
The Emergency Room plays a vital role in patient care and plays an important role in communities and society. According to the CDC, there were 119.2 million visits to the Emergency Room in 2007 1. Indeed, the demand for emergency room care is great.
Lean Thinking and the Amazon Kindle
I receive emails from recruiters – frequently. So, as a favor to them, I am posting a job for your interest: the hiring company is Amazon.com.
Below is one job description and contact information, but if you go to the Amazon.com website, there are over 50 open positions looking for people with experience in Lean Thinking and Six Sigma.
I receive emails from recruiters – frequently. So, as a favor to them, I am posting a job for your interest: the hiring company is Amazon.com.
Below is one job description and contact information, but if you go to the Amazon.com website, there are over 50 open positions looking for people with experience in Lean Thinking and Six Sigma.
Kanban Family Job Chart
The Opportunity
We have a big family – we’ve adopted a bunch and we’re very thankful for our chance to be parents. We’ve got great kids.
The Opportunity
We have a big family – we’ve adopted a bunch and we’re very thankful for our chance to be parents. We’ve got great kids.
Dichotomous Thinking at IDEO No More
Recently, Tim Brown, the CEO at IDEO came to a realization that Design Thinking can coexist with Six Sigma and Lean. For a while, his stance was really of black-and-white thinking: it’s either Design Thinking or Lean Thinking. This position is akin to a student who believes that if he doesn’t earn an “A” in a class, he believes he failed. Clearly, not healthy.
Recently, Tim Brown, the CEO at IDEO came to a realization that Design Thinking can coexist with Six Sigma and Lean. For a while, his stance was really of black-and-white thinking: it’s either Design Thinking or Lean Thinking. This position is akin to a student who believes that if he doesn’t earn an “A” in a class, he believes he failed. Clearly, not healthy.
