Sometimes you hear or see something which really surprises you - and makes you think hard about your existing frame of reference.  Take this which I heard on the radio the other day... A scientist who takes his inspiration for new inventions/innovations from the animal world (sorry, I can't recall his name) suggested that the

I saw a piece recently suggesting that India has to choose between its traditional focus on spirituality and morality - and on modern profit-focused business methods. What say I? I say 'Rubbish!" There is no dichotomy here.  The two are perfectly in harmony.  Indeed I would argue that morality (but perhaps less so, spirituality) is

We expect our staff to work hard and to do their best.  But what is 'best'. I would contend it is something to do with always being aware of the company's mission, vision and values ands always acting in furtherance of the mission and vision whilst acting in accordance with company values ... and wherever

The UK's productivity performance - as reported by the Office for National Statistics and used in international performance tables- has been woeful recently.  I know I have argued in the past that the measurement scheme seems inherently flawed but that is irrelevant to today's argument. There seems a consensus emerging that the figures are so

Some universities and colleges in the US are now being funded according to a productivity-based formula. Does this make sense? What is the productivity of a university? how is it measured?  Number of degrees per $1,000 of investment? Get it wrong - and universities will play the measurement game - making the figures move in

At a recent Institute of Management Services event in the UK, I was lucky to share a platform with Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas - -a an expert in corporate transformation. His views (thankfully) overlapped with, and complemented, mine. My 'executive takeaway' of his presentation is that: In high performing organisations, rarely are key business processes carried

Productivity doesn't just happen - it has to be designed in to the business, supporting the overall strategic vision and plan and underpinned by the establishment of key metrics. So, you need a plan.  What are you going to change?  What are you going to investigate? What do toy NEED to change?  Where are your

In 1940, one farmer supplied about 11 people with food for the year. Changes over time -especially in technology - mean that today the average farmer in the United States supplies 155 people with food for the year. How many industries can match that kind of productivity growth? But history is not important. A more

'Thingy' is a word used in the UK by many people to represent something whose name they cannot recall - a 'whatdyacallit', a 'thingymajig'.  All cultures and languages have such words. I use it here because it reminds me of the 'next big thing' (or should that be next big thingy)? This - according to

Has the open plan office had its day? When they were first introduced, they were seen as being facilitators of communication, interaction and cooperation - bringing disparate groups together. Now when I see them I think of them as being facilitators of noise and distraction. It was always the case anyway that some employees found