1st Edition

Techniques and Sample Outputs that Drive Business Excellence

By H. James Harrington, Chuck Mignosa Copyright 2015
    328 Pages 62 B/W Illustrations
    by Productivity Press

    328 Pages
    by Productivity Press

    Many organizations are looking for that magic tool or methodology that will suddenly transform them into outstanding organizations. Unfortunately, there is no one right answer for all organizations or even for a single organization. Successful organizations skillfully integrate the appropriate improvement approaches with honesty, commitment, and constancy of purpose across all levels of management.

    This book, part of The Little Big Book series, discusses the most common set of tools and methodologies used in managerial, strategic planning, project selection, and organizational improvement projects that are referred to throughout The Little Big Book series. It presents, in a concise no-nonsense format, the concepts and techniques that must be mastered by project managers and anyone tasked with managing an improvement project.

    The tools covered in this book include affinity diagrams, brainstorming, cause-and-effect diagrams, the Kano model, organizational process improvement, Pareto analysis, project management, risk management, root cause analysis, storyboarding, value propositions, and workflow diagrams.

    Because of the large number of tools and techniques covered, the book supplies concise operating guidance for each tool that is adequate to prepare readers to understand and use that tool. It also includes examples of how the tools are used.

    The book provides a basic understanding of the tools you need to improve the processes you are currently using to manage your organization and, ultimately, to improve the quality, productivity, and agility of the products or services you are delivering to your customers.

    The tools presented in this book are the essential tools that all organizations should be using. By understanding and using the tools covered in this book, you will possess a better overall understanding of the way your organization needs to function in today’s increasingly competitive environment.

    This book is designed to supplement and provide additional direction in the use of the methodologies defined in the other books in The Little Big Book series

    Affinity Diagrams
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Brainstorming (Creative Brainstorming)
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Options
         Example
              The Wildest Idea Approach
              The Superheroes Approach
         Software

    Cause-and-Effect Diagram
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Check Sheet
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Commitment Building
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example

    Consensus Building
    Definition
    Its Uses
    General
    Preparation
    Example

    Consequence Management
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example

    Control Charts
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
              Variables Control Chart
              Attributes Control Charts
         Preparation
              Variables Control Charts
              Rules for Identifying Special Causes of Variation
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Cost-Time Charts
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Data Gathering by Document Review
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Gathering Data by Document Review
         Example

    Data Gathering by Interview
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Preparing for the Interview
              Identify Candidates for the Interviews
              Arrange the Time and Place for the Interview
              Prepare and Distribute Appropriate Briefing
              Materials to the Interviewees
              Conducting the Interview
              Note-Taking
         Example
              Questioning Technique

    Data Gathering by Samples
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Sampling and Data Collection
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Data Gathering by Surveys
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Survey Process
         Data Collection Method
              Self-Completion Surveys
              In-Person Interviews
              Telephone Surveys
              Computer-Assisted Telephone
              Interviewing (CATI)
         Sources of Error
              Bias and Accuracy
         Example
         Software

    Data Stratification
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Delphi Narrowing Technique
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
              Using the Delphi Narrowing Technique

    Employee Involvement
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example

    Facilitated Sessions
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example

    Flowchart
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Steps
         Guidelines and Tips
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Force Field Analysis
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Graphs
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              X–Y Axes Graphs
              Line Graphs
              Multiple Line Graphs
              Bar or Column Graphs
              Area Graphs
              Gantt Charts (also referred to as Milestone or Planning Graphs)
              Pictorial Graphs
         Example
         Software

    Kano Model
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Motivation Management
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software
    Reference

    Negative Analysis
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
    Additional Reading

    Nominal Group Technique
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Using the Nominal Group Technique
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Organizational Change Management
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
              Elements of a Contract
              Ground Rules for Effective Contracting
              Contracting for OCM
              Effective Contracting
              Ask for Feedback
              Review the Meeting
              Additional Guidelines for Personal Organizational Relationships

    Organizational Process Consultation
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Organizational Process Consultation Issues
              Organizational Process Consultation
              Interventions
              Task-Oriented Behaviors
              Relationship-Oriented Behaviors
         Example
              Conducting Organizational Process Consultation
              Consultant’s Role
              Observer Role
         Software
    Reference

    Organizational Process Improvement/Business Process Improvement
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation for Process Redesign Methodology
         Preparation for Process Reengineering Methodology
              Phase I: Organizing for Improvement
              Phase II: Designing the Best-Value Future-State Solution (BFSS)
              Phase III: Implementation, Measurements, and Control
              Phase IV: Continuous Improvement
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Pareto Analysis
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Using Pareto Analysis
         Example
         Software

    Prioritization Matrices
    Definition
         Its Uses
    General
    Preparation
         Evaluating Using Prioritization Matrices
    Example
    Software

    Process Capability Analysis (Cp)
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Analyzing Process Capability
         Example
              Analyze the Data for Process Capability
              Perform Further Analysis If Necessary
              Further Analysis (2)
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Project Charter
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Project Management
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Examples
              Project Plan Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Risk Management
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
              Dealing with Project Risk
              Assessing Project Risk
         Preparation
              When to Use FMEA
              FMEA Procedure
         Example
         Software

    Role Mapping
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Conducting Role Mapping
         Example
         Software

    Root Cause Analysis
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Run Charts
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Using a Run Chart
         Example
         Software

    Scatter Diagrams
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Solutions Evaluation
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example

    Storyboarding
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Value Analysis
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software

    Value Engineering (VE)
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
    Additional Reading

    Value Proposition
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software
    Reference
    Additional Reading

    Voting
    Definition
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
              Ballot Voting
              Show-of-Hands Voting
              What Is a Voting Output?
              Voting
    Example
    Software

    Workflow Diagram
    Definitions
         Its Uses
         General
         Preparation
         Example
         Software
    Additional Reading

    Glossary

    Index

    Biography

    H. James Harrington, Chuck Mignosa