Icebergs seem ubiquitous in the world of Continuous Improvement: there’s John Kotter’s change management fable ‘Our Iceberg is Melting’; the Iceberg model used by systems thinkers to get below the ‘surface’ events in order to understand the patterns, structures and mental models underneath; the famous Cost of Poor Quality iceberg that shows there are many…
This Sunday, every single person in the UK will unite and take action, with a clearly defined and common purpose. We have done so twice a year since 1916, with a couple of exceptions. Amazing – the fact that people, all of the people, will mobilise and co-operate to change something as ubiquitous and vital…
Increasingly often these days we get greeted with the phrase “May you live in ‘interesting’ times”. Then we may pause a minute to think whether that was meant as a constructive positive wish – or whether there was something deeper meant by it. ‘Interesting’ sometimes seems more to mean ‘turbulent times’ rather than ‘fascinating’. Either…
When creating and growing a business, leaders typically focus most on acquiring and organising the skills, tools and other key resources required to achieve objectives and deliver results. The priority is often the tangible and visible components of structures, facilities, technology, infrastructure, partners/suppliers, customers, products and services. The organisation’s most precious resource meanwhile, its people,…
Managing Director Martin Brenig-Jones examines growth in the UK’s hotel industry and applies Lean Six Sigma methodology to demonstrate how hoteliers can avoid a post-Brexit slump. Martin’s article has been featured in the following publications: Hotel Business – 22 November 2016 HRM Guide – 9 January 2017 What does the future hold for the UK’s hotel industry? This…
As the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics have demonstrated, unlocking our own potential, and that of others, must rank as one of the most powerful and inspiring human experiences. This takes on even greater significance when the achievements exceed, even ‘smash through’, our often unconscious expectations or assumptions. Lean Six Sigma tools like Assumption Busting…
Managing Director Martin Brenig-Jones examines Lean Six Sigma and its application to Human Resources to future proof your business. Martin’s article was published in the August 2016 issue of theHRDirector. Read Martin’s article on theHRDirector website here, and a PDF version of the August issue can be found here. Future proofing your business is one of…
[box]Martin’s articles have been published in: ILM, 12th July 2016 Growth Business, 18th July 2016 HRM Guide, 11th August 2016 Fresh Business Thinking, 16th August 2016[/box] The result of the recent Brexit referendum in the UK came as a complete shock for many people who had been expecting ‘Remain’ to win which of course would…
The way in which many people, in particular business people, approach change, throws up something of a dichotomy. On the one hand, any successful business is fully cognisant, at all levels, of the need for almost constant change and re-evaluation. As technological advances alter the way in which we do business on…
Capability in change management, often referred to as ‘soft tools’ are vital ingredients for the successful deployment of Lean Six Sigma. In many ways, it is the most important. Let’s start by looking at ‘creating the right environment’. Essentially this is about leaders ‘walking the talk’. They must encourage the application and use of Lean…
