DMAIC... a tool for controlling "the quick fix" and Murphy's Law.

The following is the original and rewrite can be found by clicking here.

Up front I will say I have had Six Sigma Black Belt training, completed a project and have been in my share of "deep dive and fishbone" meetings, but am not certified... this makes me profoundly obnoxious when it comes to all things functional excellence and know just enough to be dangerous. (in a safe and good intentioned sort of way) 

Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement developed by Motorola and made famous by Jack Welsh, as part of his management strategy at General Electric. As a big fan of creative problem solving and optimizing execution, process improvement offers a vast treasure chest of frameworks and tools; one of my most favorite is the DMAIC project methodology. Define. Measure. Analyze. Improve. Control.*

• Define the system, the voice of the customer, their requirements, and the project goals.
• Measure key aspects of the current process and collect relevant data.
• Analyze the data to investigate and verify cause-and-effect relationships. 
• Improve or optimize the current process based upon data analysis 
• Control the future state process to ensure that any deviations from the target are corrected before they result in defects. 

In the context of Problem Solving, DMIAC can be slightly tweaked with regard to language and become a nice framework for working through problems:

• Define the problem at hand and its impact internally and externally.
• Measure the key aspects of the problem regarding its impact.
• Analyze the problem to determine possible solutions
• Improve the situation with a solution and execution plan.
• Control the solution's future state to ensure the problem doesn't re-occur or create a new problem.

The DMAIC framework comes in handy for problem solving, but it is with the reminder to CONTROL that truly secures its utility in the proverbial toolbox - Control the solution's future state to ensure the problem doesn't re-occur or creates a new problem... or as I like to say, control "the quick fix". And we all know what that looks like; the duct tape used to stop a water leak; the coat hanger to hold up the muffler; the part-time employee responsible for an important strategic initiative... all fine examples of "the quick fix". 

I understand that urgency may require "the quick fix" use of duct tape to prevent your basement from flooding, but in reality it should be a step in the solution, not the solution. And this is why I like DMAIC in my toolbox... it is a reminder to ask the question, "Is the solution to the problem a quick fix or a solution that has controlled the problem for the long term?" 

Why should you care about controlling the quick fix? That's an easy answer, to reduce the impact of Murphy's Law which states, "If anything can go wrong, it will". Murphy's Law, by nature will unravel your quick fix solution at the most inopportune time, more often than not, causing problems much larger than original problem the quick fix tried to address.

Remember that duct tape used to stop the leak and was good enough to do the job? Murphy's Law will guarantee an hour after you have left for a long weekend get-away the tape will peak away from the pipe and when you get home you will be greeted by thousands of dollars in water damage. Fiction maybe, but then again this is the type of story Murphy's Law encourages.

Murphy's Law is a universal constant**, but my experience is remembering DMAIC and avoiding the "quick fix" will reduce the number of times you say to yourself, "What was I thinking!"

gpe 

* DMIAC definitions generously supplied by Wikipedia

** There is no scientific data to suggest Murphy's Law is a universal constant but sometimes it does feel that way. 

... leave this world better than when you found it.

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

I came across this quote the other day - 

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.

Wilferd A Peterson

I will tell you up front I am a romantic when it comes to motivational quotes; they teach, inspire and remind us that we are not alone in what we do... literally or figuratively.

Getting back to the words of Mr. Peterson, he offers a nice laundry list for finding success and offers two very valuable messages. 

The people you associate with will influence and shape you... don't underestimate the impact. 

"The dreamers, the believers, the courageous"... we are reminded of the qualities we should surround ourselves with as we look for our own success. Conversely though, we should remember the impact when "walking with" those who are of the ilk to embrace sloth, ignorance or corruption of character... generally speaking, success does not follow them, or at the very most, is "fleeting". Our social structure is one of our greatest teachers and our desire to fit in, to emulate and be accepted is so influential it will impact how you see the world, the inflection in your voice, and how you do what you do. Do not underestimate how you are influenced by the people you associate with.

Those who dream to reach for the stars will take us there and those who see it as a flight of fancy, will surely show us how to stay on the ground. Individuality and "free will" is ultimately yours, but make no mistake those people around you heavily influence who and what you are... so choose well. And remember, the universe demands balance; as much as you are being influenced, you are also an influencer.

So ask yourself, "Am I dreaming for the stars?" And with that, remember you are helping others do the same.

You have been given this cosmic opportunity to make a difference. 

Our "success" as a species has been an iterative process - Person after person, generation after generation all striving to make a difference; all building upon themselves over countless generations, culminating in our current every day occurrences ... exploring our solar system, real time global communication, manipulating the building blocks of life, or understanding why we should plant two trees for every one we cut down - A continually growing list of what we can accomplish.

In total, they say 108 Billion people have lived on the earth since we "got involved" about 50,000 years ago* and all of them, with intent or not, have influenced where we find ourselves today. There are of course always the historical notables, sometimes simply because of good PR but the fact of the matter is, whether we go down in the history books or not, we as individuals can make a very conscious, impactful difference.

And if you listen to Wilferd A Peterson, you can make a difference that in it's humblest way leaves the world better than when you found it. 

Find your passion and bring the world along! A good definition of leadership, don't you think?

gpe 

* apologies to the creationists.

A man who carries a cat by the tail...

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way".

I read this the other day and smiled at the imagery it conjured up, as well as how it re-enforced Mark Twain as a master of the analogy. I will say up front I have not literally carried a cat by the tail, but I would envision something like this... 

A piercing cat cry, followed with screams and hisses of recognition, as the cat finds itself in a very unnatural vertical position facing the ground. Ears folded back and sharp incisors snapping, the cat brings it's claws to bear, violently lunging and contouring its sleek body up to defy gravity. The poor soul, who thought this was a good idea, tries to hold on to the tail, stay balanced and is forever compensating to avoid the angry cat's weaponry. And remember, the cat is being carried, so this is all happening on the move.

Reflecting on this somewhat comical and unsettling image, I can't help but think of it in the context of the challenging situations, problems and opportunities we can be faced with. Mark Twain is good that way, offering a full spectrum analogy.

Sometimes you just shouldn't carry a cat by the tail: I am a big believer of growing, changing and exploring new things, but sometimes it makes sense to leave well enough alone; particularly if you are not prepared for, or don't have a clear picture of what you will get from "carrying the cat"... other than expended energy, acquiring telltale scars, and haunting memories.

Sometimes you just have to carry a cat by the tail: Some say experience is the only real teacher and the only way to truly learn how to "carry a cat by the tail"... is to do it.

• You will learn how not to let go when the going gets difficult (or painful)
• You will learn new skills to deal with new situations. 
• You will learn how to adapt and manage ever changing dynamics.
• There is knowledge and development that only comes with what is inherently difficult.
• With some things, you can only learn from your mistakes.

Sometimes you have to carry a cat by the tail so one day you will be able to carry a "Tiger" by the tail: The premise of carrying a cat by the tail is that it is difficult by nature and by working through this difficulty; lessons, skills and knowledge come your way. With overcoming the challenges of carrying a cat, it prepares you for the time when you may need (or want) to carry a "Tiger" by the tail. And I will suggest they are magnitudes more difficult.

There is something about the image of carrying a cat by the tail that is simply a painful endeavour; something most people would not entertain. On the other hand, those who take on the metaphorical challenge of "carrying a cat by the tail", endure the struggle and the pain, will have learned unique and important skills that will serve them well in the future. So when challenging problems and situations present themselves, grab them and hold on.

Please note, I am not suggesting you literally carry a cat by the tail... it is just cruel, and I would suggest you will lose the battle, with a trip to the doctor in your future.

gpe