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- 1,000th post on the Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog
Here are some highlights:
Post number 2: Dangers of Forgetting the Proxy Nature of Data – “We use data to act as a proxy for some results of the system...
The Purpose of an Organization quoting Dr. Deming: “The aim proposed here for any organization is for everybody to gain – stockholders, employees, suppliers, customers, community, the environment – over the long term.”
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What to do: Management is Prediction ... Using Design of Experiments ... Bring Me Problems Even if you Don’t have the Solutions ...
- Lean and Theory of Constraints
I tend to believe the theory of constraints view is helpful but can be misleading since often the interdependencies within the system mean that it is not true that “optimizing non-bottlenecks will introduce waste” (that may be true but is not necessarily true – that is how I see it anyway)...
- Shenandoah National Park Photos
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, lies in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a few hours from Washington DC. Skyline Drive runs the length of the park as does the Appalachian Trail. I hiked several trails and took these photos...
- Texas Civil Rights Project
I donated to the Texas Civil Rights Project.
It is a travesty what has been done for decades to suppress voting rights. We need those who have had their voting rights suppressed to help save the USA from the dangerous actions taken by those increasing their efforts to disenfranchise so many people.
- Most Valuable Companies in the USA Compared to the Total Market Capitalization
In general investing in low cost index funds (like Vanguard’s index funds) is a very sensible strategy. I personally invest mostly in individual stocks. I see stocks such as Microsoft and Costco that are attractive businesses to invest in but the stocks are so costly I hesitate to invest. In addition, I already am over-invested in mega-cap companies (my largest holdings are Apple, Alphabet and Amazon, about 36% of portfolio). So avoiding other mega-caps makes some sense to me.
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10 year returns: Apple (up 1,068%), Alphabet (up 424%), Amazon (up 693%) and Microsoft (up 1,090%). FYI, the total USA market index fund (VTI) was up 187% for the same 10 year period and the S&P 500 index fund (VTI) was up 204%.
- Data is Important and You Must Confirm What the Data Actually Says
Without an appreciation for the gemba, where the data was collected, it is easy to be mislead by the data.
The most common waste of effort in examining data is reacting to the expected variation of a system as if it is something special. We have discussed this in many previous posts, for example, We Need to Understand Variation to Manage Effectively. After that, I think there is a good chance of failure to appreciate what the data is, and is not, telling us based on mistaken assumptions about what the operational definitions were...
- The Value of a Management System Accommodating Remote Work
Working remotely creates a significantly different system than working all next to each other. There are big advantages to working right next to each other. There are also really bad office designs (which are very common) which detract from success of working next to each other (distractions etc. that cubical farms, "hoteling" create etc.).
There are challenges to managing a system of work with people not being right next to each other. There are also huge advantages of hiring people that are not within commuting distance of your location...
- The Current Republican Party is a Huge Risk to the Future of the USA
I am very concerned about the extremism that dominates the USA Republican Party. Far too many people are complacent...
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The Republic Party has been on a long term effort to destroy the rule of law in the USA. The continued tolerance of those that openly tried to overturn the results of the election they lost is a critical issue that anyone that cares about the rule of law should not tolerate.
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The long term efforts of the Republican Party to disenfranchise voters is another completely unacceptable behavior...
- Remembering Brian Joiner
I knew Brian Joiner as a child growing up in Madison, Wisconsin. He and my father worked together and our families spent time together. As I grew I interacted with Brian in my professional life and that relationship made my life better.
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His book, Fourth Generation Management, is one of the top handful of books I most recommend for those interested in improving the practice of management in their organization.
- Society fails to invest in long-term solutions to long-term problems
I respect John Green and his brother, Hank. Their Vlogbrothers YouTube Chanel is a regular, enjoyable and educational part of my online activity. I recommend watching a few of videos and seeing if they should also be part of your online activity. Here is a screenshot from when John liked one of my tweets :-)
- Glacier National Park photos
I have posted photos from one of my most enjoyable days: photos from hikes in Glacier Waterton International Peace Park
- Expand the View of the System to Find Ways to Improve Results
By expanding the system view and looking at the results of the entire system it is often possible to find improvements that are not possible by only looking at “your” system. These changes can sometimes be more challenging to accomplish as they may require convincing others to make changes.
- We Should Put Solar Panels Above Parking Lots
It is more expensive to build the solar arrays and infrastructure above existing parking lots (compared to an empty field) but it is a great use to space. We should be encouraging such development.
- How to Build a Great Software Development Team
"Without confidence, honest debate about ideas is suppressed as people are constantly taking things personally instead of trying to find the best ideas (and if doing so means my idea is criticized that is ok).
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This is also one of many areas where the culture within the team was self reinforcing. As new people came on they understood this practice. They saw it in practice. They could see it was about finding good ideas and if their idea was attacked they didn’t take it nearly as personally as most people do in most places."
- Annual Performance Evaluations are a Poor Management Practice
When you understand the challenges with evaluating a complex system it isn’t hard to know that evaluating individuals is not easy. Much of the evidence of individual “performance” is so dependent on impacts within the system that are totally out of even the individual’s influence. Yet it is easy to find numbers within a complex system that can be used to argue for or against an individual’s performance.
The contributions any individual brings to an organization is largely dependent on the system in place (see: 94% Belongs to the System).
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- Good Process Improvement Practices
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- Using Quality to Develop an Internet Resource
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- Purpose of an Organization
- How to Effectively Use of the PDSA Improvement Cycle
- Financial Market Meltdown
- Economic Strength Through Technology Leadership
- The Toyota Way - Two Pillars
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- Dangers of Forgetting the Proxy Nature of Data
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