Comments on: Observe with purpose http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/ on lean culture, transformational leadership, and entrepreneurial excellence Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:37:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jamie Flinchbaugh http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Jamie Flinchbaugh Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:13:33 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-84 Thanks for the comments everyone. MBWA without a purpose would absolutely be waste. It would really be overprocessing - do more than the customer requires, because it contributes nothing to the organization or to value. Thanks for the comments everyone.

MBWA without a purpose would absolutely be waste. It would really be overprocessing – do more than the customer requires, because it contributes nothing to the organization or to value.

]]> By: Andrew Brown http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Andrew Brown Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:53:16 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-82 Thanks Jamie. An interesting post on an often under appreciated technique of fact gathering. My understanding of Genchi Genbutsu is that it's about going to the source, to gather the facts in order to make the right decision. When solving problems we can gather lots of data for analysis, but going to the gemba to gather facts helps us to confirm & contextualise the data. This "targeted" observation helps us to understand the other factors that could be impacting on the processes we are studying. One further point on Management by Wandering Aimlessly. I believe this could be categorised as Muda (waste associated with overproduction). If the wandering around is not required, then it is a resource (time/effort) that could be apply to another part of our work. Thanks Jamie.
An interesting post on an often under appreciated technique of fact gathering. My understanding of Genchi Genbutsu is that it’s about going to the source, to gather the facts in order to make the right decision.
When solving problems we can gather lots of data for analysis, but going to the gemba to gather facts helps us to confirm & contextualise the data. This “targeted” observation helps us to understand the other factors that could be impacting on the processes we are studying.
One further point on Management by Wandering Aimlessly. I believe this could be categorised as Muda (waste associated with overproduction). If the wandering around is not required, then it is a resource (time/effort) that could be apply to another part of our work.

]]> By: Jon Miller http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Jon Miller Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:24:03 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-81 Very nice post Jamie. Very nice post Jamie.

]]> By: Matt Wrye http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Matt Wrye Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:36:29 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-80 I agree. I am a person who has always liked to have data compiled in spreadsheets.......even from my observations. But as I watch managers I am coaching, I see that they use that data as problem solving. While it is good to have historical data, I am trying to pull the safety net out from under them and turn off the document system. If you want to know what is wrong, then go and observe it. I agree. I am a person who has always liked to have data compiled in spreadsheets…….even from my observations. But as I watch managers I am coaching, I see that they use that data as problem solving. While it is good to have historical data, I am trying to pull the safety net out from under them and turn off the document system. If you want to know what is wrong, then go and observe it.

]]> By: Ot Chan Dy http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Ot Chan Dy Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:18:38 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-78 That is right, Jamie! We study about the labor losses and crew saturation, so we sent somebody out to observe and the result was frustration among people and shopfloor workers feel very disappointed and get angry. We have to be sure what we are really like to see and be careful of method we use to observe, especially people. That is right, Jamie! We study about the labor losses and crew saturation, so we sent somebody out to observe and the result was frustration among people and shopfloor workers feel very disappointed and get angry. We have to be sure what we are really like to see and be careful of method we use to observe, especially people.

]]> By: Jamie Flinchbaugh http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Jamie Flinchbaugh Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:26:21 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-77 Thanks Riegholt. I agree. I think you do a great disservice to those in the workforce if you don't know why you are there. Observation is not staring. Jamie Thanks Riegholt. I agree. I think you do a great disservice to those in the workforce if you don’t know why you are there. Observation is not staring.

Jamie

]]> By: Riegholt Hilbrands http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Riegholt Hilbrands Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:18:12 +0000 http://jamieflinchbaugh.com/2009/10/observe-with-purpose/#comment-76 In my view there are two reasons why no-one should try to go-and-see without a purpose. The first one is that having 'a problem statement, gap, or issue' aims you're oservation. How can you recognize that you found something of value, if you're not sure what to watch for. The second on is respect for people. How doe we expect someone to feel if we just go over to his workplce and just watch (stare) ? I remember from my days on the shopfloor in several factories how I hated the 'suits' that just walked in, watched and left. To be honest, I did my part of Management by Wandering Around, until I was confronted quite clearly "What are you doing here, anyway ?". As I could not answer I stopped wandering that day. Anyone without a clear and known purpose, please leave the gemba! In my view there are two reasons why no-one should try to go-and-see without a purpose.

The first one is that having ‘a problem statement, gap, or issue’ aims you’re oservation. How can you recognize that you found something of value, if you’re not sure what to watch for.

The second on is respect for people. How doe we expect someone to feel if we just go over to his workplce and just watch (stare) ?
I remember from my days on the shopfloor in several factories how I hated the ‘suits’ that just walked in, watched and left.
To be honest, I did my part of Management by Wandering Around, until I was confronted quite clearly “What are you doing here, anyway ?”. As I could not answer I stopped wandering that day.

Anyone without a clear and known purpose, please leave the gemba!

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