One of the biggest challenges facing healthcare organizations today is improving patient access to care. Long wait times, limited appointment availability, and inefficient scheduling systems can all contribute to a backlog of patients and a decrease in overall patient satisfaction. However, by using A3 thinking to identify and address these issues, healthcare organizations can improve […]
Recently, I’ve been working with a non-profit board that is trying to reshape the organization’s mission. While they have a lot of hopes for the future and what the organization will accomplish, they find themselves spinning in conversation with no action forward. Without a plan, these will remain conversations of hopes and dreams. What are […]
Often when we talk of making someone responsible, it seems like we are placing a burden on that individual. From one lens, the responsibility can be a burden from both the giver and receiver’s point of view. When I asked my son to be responsible for taking out the trash, I am sure that he […]
Graduation season is upon us, this is evident by my social media feeds flooding with pictures of recent graduates in their caps and gowns. These bright and smiling faces are proud of their accomplishments, as they should be. Graduation marks a milestone in their lives. Many are be excited to move on to the next […]
As a leader preparing to go to gemba or connecting with staff at huddle, the emphasis is often placed on crafting that perfect question. While having a good first question is important, I would like to suggest that it is not as important as what comes next. Your reaction to the answer could overshadow the […]
It’s not uncommon to hear statements like “I think this will help us achieve that target,” or “I hope this change in process will get us to where we need to be” from operations managers when it comes to new goals or targets being defined for the year. But hope is not a strategy, and […]
A while back at Catalysis we did an ice-breaker before a value stream mapping event that demonstrated how the meaning of words can differ from person to person. First, the facilitator tells the story of a man who was found dead inside a cabin and nobody else was around. The team takes turns asking questions […]
