Episode 63 - The War on Waste Paradox - Chapter 13 - Audio Book

A Consortium of Problem Solvers Podcast of Len Bertain's Audio Books

Are we having fun yet?

We talked in the chapter about 5/67 Analysis. In the real world of the War on Waste, 5/67 Analysis is what we call a “forcing function.” In the hands of an engineer, it serves as the forcing function to define the 5% of the features that give 67% of the benefit. It forces rapid prototyping. Today, the goal of the engineering of a technology company is time to market. By designing to that goal, 5/67 Analysis drives the engineering organization to think thru the features to give maximum benefit to the expected users.

We use the 5/67 Analysis as the way to do management training, strategy development, human resources optimization, etc. It permeates all of our thinking about how to run a company. In short, it is the most powerful tool that we have at our disposal. My friend, George Sibbald, is writing a book about that and he has asked me to look over his shoulder.

As you read this chapter, you get a feeling that Quality Pumps is going to be OK. Mr. Grimes is relaxing a bit and the employees are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, and it isn’t a bear carrying a lantern. However, the job isn’t done yet. Mr. Grimes will have to see all these ideas through to completion and there will be some pain felt before that is accomplished.

We get a new take on Tribal Knowledge when Phil, a non-college educated consultant joins Dr. Elbie. There is a prejudice against this in most companies. It is the rare employee or person who can rise above that in our corporate world. Only the super-educated rise to the top. How can such an individual contribute to Tribal Knowledge.