Business

Now, I just love New Things. Especially when they seem designed for my own personal needs. That’s why I’m relocating this blog to sweat365.com, a blogging site-cum-community forum thing that’s been developed by Zappoman (Mr Brad Hefta-Gaub to the sober-suited buisiness-types that he has to talk to nowadays), Phil Sabin (an (ex?) sober-suited accountant...
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One of my biggest heroes is . . . . . . a little Japanese chap who died in 1990, and was one of the founders of, and leading experts on the Toyota Production System - the TPS. Shigeo Shingo He was one of the production engineering geniuses who in post-war Japan reversed a 10:1 productivity...
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Right now I’m working with a firm to help improve their production output. They’re suffering from the usual problem - too much work in progress (WIP), caused by a production manager who wanted to ‘get ahead’, by manically over-producing at the start of the process flow. The line manager I’m working with understands this, and...
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I read on the Macworld site about syncing Windows Mobile devices with a Mac. So you can have a smart phone to go with your Mac, and keep the two in step with third party software, like Missing Sync for Windows Mobile, or PocketMac Pro. Of course, there is the whole question about why...
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I found this article by Kathy Sierra on Creating Passionate Users via Pivotal Personal Best. Aparently, if user manuals were treated more like marketing materials, companies would get a lot fewer complaints and tech support calls, as users would RTFM (Read The Firkin Manual, in case you didn’t know . . . ) The logic...
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BBC NEWS | Magazine | Wi-fi worry Yes folks - the luddites are at it again! Health concerns over the electromagnetic radiation of WiFi is causing a big switch-off in schools. The reported symptoms of this dangerous radiation are headaches and skin rashes. The funny thing is that I had both of those as a teenager...
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DailyKaizen » Hoshin 102 I think I should buy shares in 3M - the people who invented Post It Notes. I seem to use them all the time when running workshops - they’re a great tool to use for rearranging complex information, to try and make sense of a problem. One of the main techniques I...
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The Amazing Group is a local company that does  . . .  er . . . amazing things, all based around creating innovative on-line products and services. It’s CEO is Paul Campbell (no - not the Canadian actor) - one of the nicest and most focused people I’ve ever met. Their latest thing is Amazing...
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When one of my favourite bloggers (/grumpy old men) mentioned a Dilbert posting, I just had to read more. Especially in the context of Bill Gates running for President!? Scot Adams has noticed that atheists, with Richard Dawkins leading the charge are coming out. In the wake of 9/11, it’s acceptable to not believe in...
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Mark Graban at Lean Blog’s just finished reading Managing the Professional Service Firm by David Maister, and raises an interesting point: “Quality Work Does Not Mean Quality Service” ‘Work’ is the stuff you do, while ‘Service’ refers to the overall customer experience - what’ll keep them coming back for more. You can do a great job,...
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