First Half of February 2019 — Key #Lean Tweets (and LinkedIn Posts) from @MarkGraban

Here's the latest installment of “Key Tweets,” a (usually) weekly post that presents some of my tweets (or retweets) from the week, including pictures and other interesting stuff. I sometimes also re-share items that I've posted on LinkedIn.
You can follow me @MarkGraban and join the fun and the conversation, but you don't need a Twitter account to view any of this.
See the previous installments of Key Tweets.
From LinkedIn:
From Twitter:
Plotting “change in sales” creates visual deception that sales are falling. This picture would be more clear if you just charted actual sales — which have continued going up. pic.twitter.com/kPLBBa453u
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 1, 2019
“the important parts of #Lean are what you can’t see. Culture, leadership and teamwork are the foundation of the process and Breeo spent much of the winter months working on these items.” https://t.co/2FsD1cnNLs
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 1, 2019
The one where customers complain about variation in the product… or a shift in quality that has now been solved?https://t.co/5jqbkKl86d
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 1, 2019
Fujio Cho: "Many good companies have respect for individuals, and practice kaizen and other TPS tools….But what is important is having all the elements together as a system. It must be practiced every day in a very consistent manner, not in spurts.” https://t.co/dZCWfaHS9v
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 1, 2019
I try to gently poke fun at what I call “Management by Emoji” in my book “Measures of Success,” but it actually is a thing. I just don’t see evidence that it helps. Feeling sad about a data point isn’t the key to improvement. #lean #plotthedots pic.twitter.com/W8dMIqlrnu
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 2, 2019
As Captain Sullenberger said: "A checklist alone is not sufficient. What makes it effective are the attitude, behavior and teamwork that go along with the use of it." https://t.co/Z6XxROJfiZ https://t.co/6VU0SCke1o
— Paul Levy (@Paulflevy) February 3, 2019
Gosh, at this point, just draw a Line Chart already, USA Today. pic.twitter.com/H4jFEQsmgL
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
"As Graban writes, using PBCs subtly shifts the question from “What went wrong last week?” to “What was different last week?” Or even better, “How can we improve the system and its typical performance?” https://t.co/1ht3OGS065
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
Why isn’t the Super Bowl on Saturday night? “But we’ve always had it on Sunday.” Well the game also be in the late afternoon, not evening too. https://t.co/6m7lAFxnHo
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
"But we don't make weaving looms in this part of Toyota! We're different. Jidoka doesn't apply here…" — Said somebody at some point during the early days of the Toyota auto business.
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
The First Ever Instance of "Lean Doesn't Apply to Us?" – #Lean Blog https://t.co/OnoSEddZ7T
Data doesn't back this headline: "Super Bowl Ratings Hit 10-Year Low In Historic NFL Game & Patriots’ Win"https://t.co/I7pe23bx7w
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
Ratings were LOWER last year. The "Share" was the same. As always, a run chart (or a "Process Behavior Chart," below) helps. It's just fluctuating. pic.twitter.com/DLE03JiyrE
“The Times also found that hospital leaders did not aggressively respond to warnings that frontline medical workers raised about procedures as early as 2015.” https://t.co/AEByJH8NAM
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 4, 2019
This WSJ chart requires a lot of mental gymnastics. This could be visualized so much more clearly. pic.twitter.com/GpBHIb2g1r
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
Unfortunately, too many people think #Lean is about forcing people to follow standard work. Toyota’s Taiichi Ohno wrote this though: pic.twitter.com/P1p2NZxbrT
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
"A growing evidence base links more nursing time per patient-day with better patient outcomes. However, increased nurse workload and the growing nursing workforce shortage reduce the amount of nursing time available for patient care activities."https://t.co/hoFFIFYrQo
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
This is the second "we have no choice but to raise our price a little bit" notification that I received from a home services company this week. You "need to" or "must" increase your price? It's really more of a choice, so OK. pic.twitter.com/rh99fc9rCW
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
Filling out a pre-appointment form online for a doctor. LOL. Fax number? ROTFL pic.twitter.com/x9kmDxgxNz
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
The "S" in SPEAKUP stands for… "Speak Up."
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 5, 2019
Brilliant.
More importantly, I think that health systems and their leaders need to manage things so that patients and families do NOT have to ask them if they've cleaned their hands. pic.twitter.com/RqD55DgT7D
Register now, 3 weeks 'til @meghanmscanlon & @MarkGraban discuss the compelling power of aspirational goals, which unleash the practical genius w/in every employee. https://t.co/A2kk9v7CdT pic.twitter.com/yQHNvDZLTe
— Value Capture LLC (@ValueCapture1) February 6, 2019
“If your digital suggestion box follows the same paradigm as the old one, you are still focused on collecting ideas, not implementing them. And that's a problem.” https://t.co/zabN8qJavG
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 6, 2019
Prediction based on human nature: pushing #lean on @elonmusk will only lead to a natural defensive reaction. You need this… no I don’t. https://t.co/1iOofNQZVr
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 6, 2019
One of the frustrating things about publishers is that they view the unit of work as "book." There are opportunities for better flow (unit of work = chapter), but "the way we've always done it" is chucking the entire book back and forth. Those habits die hard, apparently.
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 7, 2019
I don’t recall ever seeing a sign like this in an exam room. If it were my clinic, I’d invite the patient to talk to the office manager face-to-face. You’d gain much more customer insight than a text message. But texting is a good option for those afraid to complain. pic.twitter.com/auV3HodCya
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 7, 2019
This waiting room poster gives me confidence the orthopedists know what the major body parts are named. pic.twitter.com/9EAXgYu5WD
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 7, 2019
Funny that they felt the need to add the paper sign. pic.twitter.com/ZEthVKIBh9
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 7, 2019
“Please do not park stretchers or carts in this hallway.”
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 8, 2019
OK, I’ll park stretchers AND carts there. 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/TfdAl1R7EX
So true… if you’re not failing, you’re not learning
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 8, 2019
[IMAGE] Daily Bob Ross Motivation https://t.co/V1Wz4t44Kk
Art Byrne: “I strongly believe that a successful #lean implementation requires a no layoff policy in order to get everyone on board.” Keep in mind, though, that "kaizen" is not just events… it's also a process of engaging everybody in small winshttps://t.co/sDfkKwRzHv
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 8, 2019
2 minutes in the comfy waiting room chair. 30+ minutes waiting on a choice of these two uncomfortable seats. 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/oQ1LbasuUj
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 8, 2019
Kevin #lean thinker? pic.twitter.com/VZvmQcRtCU
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 8, 2019
“A federal investigation into Miller’s death found that the Minneapolis VA made multiple errors: not scheduling a follow-up appointment, failing to communicate with his family about the treatment plan and inadequately assessing his access to firearms.” https://t.co/Sw8vvHauLg
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 10, 2019
“while former staffers portray her as a brutal boss who mistreated them” https://t.co/j6WCreJbZz
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 10, 2019
But he said “Best regards,” so… https://t.co/DORfNuyfD2
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 10, 2019
Great case example of a "Process Behavior Chart" in healthcare: Has Nurse Turnover Changed? – Measures of Success – #plotthedots https://t.co/YZpkGGmGhT
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 11, 2019
“Efficiency, Toyota's manufacturing experts explained, isn't simply about the sheer number of vehicles you can build with a given amount of money and time; it's about constantly optimizing production to match the actual "pull" of demand in the market.” https://t.co/5SKWWDuWt7
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 11, 2019
“But being correct is only part of the equation, because you won’t be correct all the time. Being transparent is important, too.” https://t.co/duE0ckztBC
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 11, 2019
“Almost every insulation job went right up to the $1,600 cap, regardless of size or ceiling area.” https://t.co/OL5qiWmiXG
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 12, 2019
What's it Like to Work at @KaiNexus? — We are hiring a JavaScript developer
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 12, 2019
https://t.co/yIs64aguzP
Thanks to the Society for Health Systems for hosting my webinar on "Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More." You can view the recording here (it's free, but a contact form is required). #lean #plotthedotshttps://t.co/uaQpBC5F8v pic.twitter.com/oGyE6mBZy0
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 12, 2019
“Human error is not homicide. Nurses often work under extreme pressure situations and can be battling against understaffing/high acuity.” I think it's outrageous that a nurse would be indicted for murder for her role in a systemic medication error.https://t.co/348M623Q9b
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 13, 2019
“This has all been trial and error and just following what works,” he says. “We’re not scientists.” https://t.co/3euaXXr5RX
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 13, 2019
My book "Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More" is up to 20 reviews, all 5-stars. But, that's perhaps a "vanity metric." What matters more to me are the nice emails I get from people who are putting these methods into practice. https://t.co/sKajsw1byr pic.twitter.com/85sIjGrmTA
— Mark Graban (@MarkGraban) February 13, 2019
@MarkGraban & I discuss his upcoming Measures of Success workshop he will be presenting in Toronto 3.26.19 in partnership with #SystemsThinkingTO.
— Chris R. Chapman (@DerailleurAgile) February 13, 2019
Learn to separate signals from noise in your data so you can react less, lead better, and improve more!https://t.co/g0dRdhZ98N
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Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. His latest book is Measures of Success: React Less, Lead Better, Improve More. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. He also published the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus.