Continuously Improving an Organization's Performance


Book Description

This practical guide for managers demonstrates when, where, and how to implement significant organizational change through teamwork.




Continuous Process Improvement in Organizations Large and Small


Book Description

Our world changes faster today than at any time in the history of mankind. Organizations, like living breathing organisms, must learn to adapt to changes in the environment in which each operates. It is generally held today, by those who study organizations, that those who fail to adapt to seemingly unending change are certainly doomed but those able to adapt to constant change tend to thrive. The purpose of this book is to describe the leadership required to successfully implement continuous process improvement in organizations. The author begins the journey with a discussion of organizational culture as he sets out to describe how leaders develop a culture where continuous improvement can thrive. The challenges of organizational change faced by all leaders who strive to take advantage of the benefits of continuous process improvement is discussed, as well as what leaders must do to make change stick. The goal is to provide a description of the leadership necessary to make continuous process improvement a reality in any organization.




Built to Change


Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, organizational effectiveness experts Edward Lawler and Christopher Worley show how organizations can be “built to change” so they can last and succeed in today’s global economy. Instead of striving to create a highly reliable Swiss watch that consistently produces the same behavior, they argue organizations need to be designed in ways that stimulate and facilitate change. Built to Change focuses on identifying practices and designs that organizations can adopt so that they are able to change. As Lawler and Worley point out, organizations that foster continuous change Are closely connected to their environments Reward experimentation Learn about new practices and technologies Commit to continuously improving performance Seek temporary competitive advantages




Winning


Book Description

This book shows how organizational frame-breaking changes can be used in order for an organization to learn from its own experience and continually improve.




TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT


Book Description

Providing accessible coverage of the basics and practical aspects of total quality management, this book is intended for students of management and engineering. The text adopts a realistic approach to the teaching of the subject with the principal focus on the philosophy of total quality management and its role in today’s world of fierce business competition. Discusses the mechanism of quality control, quality assurance and different types of quality control tools and their usage. Features the Japanese management philosophy, quality awards and standards. Presents the differences between total quality management and business process re-engineering and approaches to integrate them. Describes the various aspects of benchmarking, capability maturity model and customer relationship management.







Recipe for Organizational Success


Book Description

Creating a world-class-performing organization is an enormous challenge, but doing so will give your organization the competitive advantage that it needs for success. World-class-performing organizations are incredibly effective and as a result, consistently outperform most of their competition for an extended period of time. This guide offers a ten-step methodology to lay the foundation needed to join the ranks of these organizations. To continuously improve your organizations performance, you need to develop a systematic corporate approach to problem-solving, build capability for sustainable long-term growth, and master three major business functions: leadership, execution, and cost structure. The ten-step methodology in this book focuses on accomplishing these objectives by walking you through how to: - Create a culture of accountability, discipline, and systems - Improve profitability and execution capacity - Focus your organizations efforts on increasing productivity Build a world-class performing business with a Recipe for Organizational Success.




Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement


Book Description

It is often assumed that software testing is based on clearly defined requirements and software development standards. However, testing is typically performed against changing, and sometimes inaccurate, requirements. The third edition of a bestseller, Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement, Third Edition provides a continuous quality framework for the software testing process within traditionally structured and unstructured environments. This framework aids in creating meaningful test cases for systems with evolving requirements. This completely revised reference provides a comprehensive look at software testing as part of the project management process, emphasizing testing and quality goals early on in development. Building on the success of previous editions, the text explains testing in a Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) environment, the building blocks of a Testing Center of Excellence (COE), and how to test in an agile development. Fully updated, the sections on test effort estimation provide greater emphasis on testing metrics. The book also examines all aspects of functional testing and looks at the relation between changing business strategies and changes to applications in development. Includes New Chapters on Process, Application, and Organizational Metrics All IT organizations face software testing issues, but most are unprepared to manage them. Software Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement, Third Edition is enhanced with an up-to-date listing of free software tools and a question-and-answer checklist for choosing the best tools for your organization. It equips you with everything you need to effectively address testing issues in the most beneficial way for your business.




Measuring and Improving Social Impacts


Book Description

Identifying, measuring and improving social impact is a significant challenge for corporate and private foundations, charities, NGOs and corporations. How best to balance possible social and environmental benefits (and costs) against one another? How does one bring clarity to multiple possibilities and opportunities? Based on years of work and new field studies from around the globe, the authors have written a book for managers that is grounded in the best academic and managerial research.It is a practical guide that describes the steps needed for identifying, measuring and improving social impact. This approach is useful in maximizing the impact of different types of investments, including grants and donations, impact investments, and commercial investments.With numerous examples of actual organizational approaches, research into more than fifty organizations, and extensive practical guidance and best practices, Measuring and Improving Social Impacts fills a critical gap.




The Performance Power Grid


Book Description

Performance Power Grid uses the metaphor of an actual electrical grid to explain how business leaders can maximize the way their people interact and work together. It offers a framework that helps managers channel the energy of employees into the proper tasks, processes, and projects, leading to higher productivity and more team focus on the jobs that truly matter.