Tag: PDSA
10 Powerful Toyota Quotes on Mistakes, Learning, and Psychological Safety
TL;DR: Looking for powerful Toyota quotes? Here are verified quotes from The Toyota Way and Toyota leaders on mistakes, learning, psychological safety, and continuous...
How Small Tests of Change Prevent Big Mistakes
This post shares a simple, real example of Lean thinking in action--using small tests of change to learn safely and avoid bigger, more costly...
Jumping to Solutions: A Hard Habit to Break
Here is an article I first published on Linked seven years ago this week. This is lightly edited and updated.
We've all seen it...
Anti-Racism: A River WE Must Cross
Starting With the Grand-Daddies of Quality
A few years back I developed a blog series titled, "The Grand-Daddies of Quality"-- my goal was to delve...
Continuing to Continuously Improve My Online Scheduling Process
For years, I've scheduled many phone calls and web meetings. That's only increased during this current Covid-19 era. Sooooo many Zoom meetings. I do...
Performance Reviews vs. Continuous Improvement: What Leaders Treat as “Must-Do” Work
TL;DR: Most organizations say continuous improvement matters, but treat it as optional--while performance reviews are non-negotiable. That choice reveals more about leadership priorities than...
Maybe “Just Do Its” Should Be Called “Just PDSA Its”?
tl;dr: We often label small changes as "Just Do Its," but that can skip over useful thinking. Even the simplest Kaizen can follow a...
The Problem with the “Wedge” Metaphor in Lean Standardized Work
TL;DR: The wedge metaphor, often used to represent standardized work in Lean, can send the wrong message. Instead of assuming people will backslide without...
What ESPN’s MNF Graphics Teaches Us About Real-World PDSA Cycles
tl;dr: ESPN's quick change to a confusing MNF scoreboard graphic shows how fast feedback and responsiveness can turn a misstep into a learning moment....
What My Antiperspirant Taught Me About Standardized Work and PDSA
tl;dr: A small personal annoyance led me through an informal PDSA cycle and revealed how flawed mental models and vague "standardized work" can create...
What Wineries in Spain and France Can Teach Us About Experimentation...
tl;dr: Wineries in Spain and France--many with centuries of history--continue to improve through experimentation. They run small tests, learn from both successes and failures,...
A PDSA Cycle in the Early Days of Baseball Uniforms
TL;DR: Early baseball teams experimented with position-specific uniforms, quickly learned it created confusion, and abandoned the idea. It's a classic example of Plan-Do-Study-Adjust--small tests,...
