Comments on: Why Traditional Suggestion Boxes Don’t Work http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont/#comment-2813 Anonymous Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:42:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont-work/#comment-2813 I think the biggest problem with the Suggestion Box is related to the assumpiont that is just an -internal marketing trick-<br/>So it's up to the management to show that's something REALLY used to improve.<br/>PierG<br/>http://pierg.wordpress.com I think the biggest problem with the Suggestion Box is related to the assumpiont that is just an -internal marketing trick-
So it’s up to the management to show that’s something REALLY used to improve.
PierG
http://pierg.wordpress.com

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]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont/#comment-2807 Mark Graban Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:02:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont-work/#comment-2807 Pete - you make some good points. It's not that the box itself is bad, but in how it's used. I've seen suggestion boxes that were locked and management had literally lost the key. The problem was the lack of attention to employee concerns, the box itself wasn't the root cause of the problem.<br/><br/>I've just seen suggestions managed so much more effectively without the box -- having employees bring suggestions to you verbally is much better for discussion and implementation. It leads to faster resolution and you can work together in the context of "how do I make this into something we can implement?" instead of a management process that approves or rejects suggestions without dialog with the employee. Pete – you make some good points. It’s not that the box itself is bad, but in how it’s used. I’ve seen suggestion boxes that were locked and management had literally lost the key. The problem was the lack of attention to employee concerns, the box itself wasn’t the root cause of the problem.

I’ve just seen suggestions managed so much more effectively without the box — having employees bring suggestions to you verbally is much better for discussion and implementation. It leads to faster resolution and you can work together in the context of “how do I make this into something we can implement?” instead of a management process that approves or rejects suggestions without dialog with the employee.

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]]> By: Pete Abilla http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont/#comment-2806 Pete Abilla Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:04:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/why-traditional-suggestion-boxes-dont-work/#comment-2806 The Suggestion Box, in itself, isn't all that bad. In fact, Toyota uses them. <br/><br/>Here's the big difference: The number of "Problem Solvers" versus "Problem Finders" are significantly different at Toyota than at other companies that have suggestion boxes. In fact, a metric that is tracked and reported on is (# of suggestions implemented divided # of suggestions submitted per month). <br/><br/>Plus, for high-impact suggestions that, Toyota provides financial or monetary rewards. The Suggestion Box, in itself, isn’t all that bad. In fact, Toyota uses them.

Here’s the big difference: The number of “Problem Solvers” versus “Problem Finders” are significantly different at Toyota than at other companies that have suggestion boxes. In fact, a metric that is tracked and reported on is (# of suggestions implemented divided # of suggestions submitted per month).

Plus, for high-impact suggestions that, Toyota provides financial or monetary rewards.

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