Scenario reprinted from Purple Curve Effect — SKI's Throughput on Command:
In a perfect world, Suzie the HR Director is going to read this book and say, “Wow!” Then she’ll call a "Throughput" practitioner and say, “Help!”
Great. Suzie wants to fix her department. Let’s help her.
Scenario:
Suzie leaves a phone message for Todd, a Throughput Guru.
He responded in person the very next day, “Hi Suzie. I’m Todd.”
“Oh! Todd. Thanks for stopping by. I guess I was expecting a return phone call. How can you afford to stop in for a free consultation?”
“Well, Grasshopper (a reference to the TV series Kung Fu for those of you who aren’t as addicted to the tube),” Todd grins, “you are not ready for that insight yet. In the meantime, please describe for me any undesirable effects (UDEs) your department is experiencing. Just list a few of the bigger ones, maybe six or seven. No order is required, just mention them as they come to mind.” Todd sees a smile come to Suzie’s face as his ability to help her “on-the-spot” becomes apparent.
Suzie thinks for a moment, “Okay, let’s see. Well the biggest challenge is trying to get everything done since the downsizing. My performance numbers have really slid. It used to take us about ten to twelve resumes per open job requisition to find a suitable person to hire. That number has jumped to more than twenty in the last three months. So, besides being short handed, there is now even more work.”
“Can you think of anything else or, should we interview some of the department personnel?” Todd’s words bring another smile to Suzie’s face.
“Perfect idea.”
Within minutes, Suzie has drawn three employees into her office and they all quickly offer their favorite UDEs. From this list of undesirable effects, it is easy to draw the Current Reality Tree (a logic diagram to understand the present circumstances and there affect on throughput), logically exploring the cause-and-effect issues that are driving the staff crazy.
Examination of the Current Reality Tree leads to the conflict or constraint that is the largest contributor to all their grief. Once issues have all been plotted in black and white, it is easy to spot and understand the core constraint. The one core constraint, when broken, will allow the HR Department to get back ahead of the curve. A true breakthrough!
Real Life Application
When I wrote those words late in 2003, I could not have foreseen the adventure that my consulting life would take, including spending almost six months in Britt, Iowa! But while there as Director of Manufacturing for an American OEM of custom motorcycles, I got to hire a few people. Those that follow my blog (SKI on Throughput) will know that Jim Collins is my hero in the realm of professional recruiting.
His message that, "The right people are your greatest asset" is brilliant.
Where I have been able to help in the recruiting and hiring process, my consulting assignments have performed even better than otherwise possible.
Why?
The right people. In Iowa, it was a painter. Lets call him Steve. Steve had the right attitude ("What can I do to help!")... and plenty of passion and enthusiasm for two! I had made a mistake on ordering gas tanks, a long lead item, and Steve was quick to jump in and make two custom gas tanks to keep production flowing.
Not sure about spending the big bucks to hire me to fix your strategy? Consider starting our adventure to greater throughput by hiring me to recruit that unique talent necessary for that pressing challenge (hidden under that stack of paper!) on the corner of your desk.
If finding and hiring the right person for a challenging role in your company is the weakest link, then you need me on that task. Today. Don't even consider putting this off for another day! Every day you procrastinate is another day your throughput is suffering.
Need recruiting help? Call me. Today.
Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah
Throughput.us LLC
(330) 432-3533
P.S. The PDF of Purple Curve Effect (186 pages) is now available for Free! Paperback version for just $14.00USD plus three bucks S&H...
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