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Building lessons
I doubt the people who mix concrete and dig holes for a living see those tasks as something to practice and learn from. Maybe that is why so many people struggle to identify the work processes they own. They have been doing the same things too long to see the repetitive patterns. If we can’t see our processes, how can we begin to measure, analyze and improve them?
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The maturity model
Managers like to simplify matters so that decision making appears simple. Sales fall or rise, profits increase or decrease, staff either performs to expectations or fails. Unfortunately, business seldom operates in this manner. High fliers and laggards alike fail to reach world-class performance levels for various reasons. The key to continuous improvement lies with understanding the areas most important to success and a commitment to achieve greater goals.
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Transition management: Making it personal
I recently accepted a new position with the U.S. government that will take me away from the healthcare industry. John Kotter’s seminal article “Leading Change: Why Transformations Fail,” published in the January 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review, cited eight key steps for guiding successful organizational change, which helped guide my successful personal change effort. These principles could help you manage your personal transition.
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Sustaining the food chain
Often, what holds back sustainable food production is a lack of coordination and know-how within the value chain. Farmers and ranchers are independent operators with their own goals and objectives. The same is true for processors, packagers, supermarkets, restaurants and other food sellers. The transportation and distribution network that underlies and supports the chain likewise is driven by its own competitive agenda.
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The PE exam – updated
IIE members, working with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), have completed significant changes to the industrial engineering professional engineer exam. This article will detail several changes that will impact when and how you take the exam.
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