New Look: Curious Cat Website - completely new design

• Ceramic Tile Art on Chinese Temple Roof
• Change is Necessary, But it has to be the Right Change - While change may well be necessary. Change is not sufficient. You need to know what to do then change. Similar to Dr. Deming's thoughts on best efforts :-)
• Human-Computer Cooperation - People often try to design software solutions that remove the need for humans to be involved. For complex problems, though, it is often much more effective to design solutions where people take advantage of computer tools to achieve results...
• Where There is Fear You Do Not Get Honest Figures - Using data to make decisions is important to effective management. But using data goes far beyond math. To make judgements we need to understand the source of data. We need to understand the potential weaknesses in the data. We need to understand how to apply statistical thinking to make decisions using the data.
• Your Brain Can Jump to Incorrect Conclusions - By understanding some of the traps our brain can fall into, we can improve our decision making.
• Software Process and Measurement Podcast on Management Matters - as you might expect there was a bit of a focus on software development and agile software development as related to the ideas I expressed in Management Matters: Building Enterprise Capability.
• How Much of Current Income to Save for Retirement - he simple idea is start by saving 15% of salary by the time you are 30. Then adjust over time. If you start earlier maybe you can get by with 12%, if you start later then more of each paycheck is wise.
• Pay Practices Say More About Respect for People Than Words Say - One thing to note is while "Costco pays the highest wages in the industry with benefits that are very good for any industry." to "workers" they don't pay the exorbitant executive pay most of the companies that scrimp on paying non-executives.

• Buddha Tooth Temple in Singapore - see some photos from my visit
• Accept Taking Risks, Don't Blithely Accept Failure Though - Failing because we do a lousy job of running an experiment isn't good. It isn't something to encourage. We want to develop a culture where risks are accepted when they are useful but that doesn't mean we want to take risks that are foolish and not helpful.

• Manufacturing Output by Country 1999-2011: China, USA, Japan, Germany - China shot past the USA, which dropped into 2nd place, but the USA still manufactures a great deal and has continually increased output (though very slowly in the last few years).
• Customer Delight - Customer satisfaction is better than dissatisfaction but it is not enough. A satisfied customer will leave for another provider at the slightest provocation. They see a bit lower price - they leave. You make one minor slip up - they leave. They find some marketing effort cute - they leave. Delighted customers are very difficult for competitors to take away."
• Business 901 Podcast: Two New Deadly Diseases for Business - excessive executive pay and a broken patent and copyright system are doing great damage to our economy and society.
• The Market Discounts Proven Company Leadership Far Too Quickly - Developing a strong executive leadership culture is not a short term effort. It isn't based on one person. It almost never deteriorates quickly. Yet markets continually overact to minor blips on the long term success of companies. I think this is mainly due to a failure to appreciate systems...

• Banyon Tree Overgrowing Temple Entrance, Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Nobody Gives a Hoot About Profit - Dr. Deming looked at the actions senior executives take and he looked at the actions that should be taken to maximize profit over the long term. He didn't see that executives took the actions consistent with maximizing profit. Dr. Ackoff found the same thing.
• Benefit by Creating Organization that Practices Critical Thinking - The gains made through the direct application of management improvement tools and practices are wonderful. But the indirect benefit of the improvement in critical thinking is more significant.
• Look First to Improve Your Performance and That of Your Sphere of Control - many find it easy to see how others should improve performance but seem surprised they should consider changes themselves is common... This idea holds true for teams also: look to what we are a group can do to improve not just all sorts of changes other people should make to stop causing the problems we experience today.
• Long History of Lean Thinking in Government - We have to expect more of our governments. Better management practices will provide more value at less costs - both of which are badly needed.
• Lavishing Tax Cuts on Ourselves, That Our Grandkids Have to Pay For, is Bad Policy - Those that want to continue the policies of the last few decades of policies that tax our grandkids to pay for us living beyond our means seem to have won the day again. Not a surprise; very sad though.