Why should you have a Chief Engineer?
I’ve had conversations with numerous advisory clients this year about the role of the Chief Engineer. To be clear, I don’t generally advocate that an organization install this role. It is heralded in the lean product development community as a key aspect of such a transformation. Other than having clear
Read MoreGenerating Knowledge Through Lean Product Development
Effectively and efficiently generate knowledge through lean product development. Ask someone in product development what they produce, and they will likely say specs, tests, drawings, models, and other such artifacts. But those are only artifacts. They are manifestations of what you are truly producing, which is knowledge. Knowledge of what
Read MoreTrust in Product Development
What does trust have to do with product development? I have written quite a bit about product development, and also about trust (for links, see the bottom of this article). But what do they have to do with one another other than the fact that one is important and the
Read MoreSuccessful Lean Steering Committees [from the archives]
Do you have a group of people leading lean? Whether formal or informal, there is often such as group particularly early in the lean journey (meaning the first several years). I get a lot of questions by email, some by clients and others by readers. Many are two specific to
Read MoreThe Invincible Company
I recently read The Invincible Company, the latest in a series that began as Business Model Generation. This very much depends on that first book. But if you’re currently rethinking your strategy and business model, then this book might be for you. The Invincible Company: https://amzn.to/3kIX2xt Business Model Generation: https://amzn.to/3mHjOaY
Read MoreIs the Right Attitude Enough?
Robert Fritz is the person who best articulated the concept of creative tension which I brought into the lean community as a perspective that in many ways personifies the lean thinking process. Because the book that exposed this concept to the majority of people is The Fifth Discipline by Peter
Read MoreWhat Job Does Your Product Do?
Especially now, if your company has been disrupted by the pandemic, or you’re looking for new strategies to grow into the situation, people are thinking about new products, services, and value propositions. Most companies think about what they already have, what they are already doing, and just focus on better
Read MoreThe Board of Directors’ Role in the 2020 Crises
2020 has been a year to stress-test people, governments, and companies. On August 19th, 2019, the Business Roundtable shocked many with a statement that the purpose of business was not just to make money for shareholders, but all stakeholders have interests that mattered: “The CEOs of Business Roundtable adopted a
Read MoreSolving Complex Problems: Systems First, or Individual First?
Some problems in your organization permeate so thoroughly that you don’t know where to start. The problem statement usually starts with something quite broad, and of course, must be broken down to be solved. However, some of these large and complex problems are so invasive that the perspective we start
Read MoreDo You Delay, Adjust, or Redesign?
The COVID pandemic has delayed and deferred many important activities from projects to learning to networking. Many companies and individuals are facing decisions about what to do with those important but on-hold items. In this video, I provide a framework for sorting through options and making decisions, with the criteria
Read More