Late Projects

Anyone who has ever worked on a product development project has encountered this problem! The following posts discuss various aspects of this complex problem.

Why is my project late? – in which we use a tool known as a fishbone diagram to list and categorize the causes that result in late projects.

Schedules are Models – in which we discuss the advantages of thinking of schedules as a way to model how to proceed with a project.

Parkinson’s Law for Schedules – in which we explain how the misuse of schedules during product development results in late projects.

Daily Status Meetings – in which we analyze the ways in which these meetings reduce the productivity of product development teams.

Leading a Design Meeting – in which we discuss best practices for leading productive design meetings.

Product Development Lessons from a Model Car Kit – in which we use the example of assembling a model car kit to learn an important lesson about the importance of integration planning in product development.

Buildings Speak. Do we like what they say? – in which we ponder how the physical environment in which we work affects our productivity and happiness.

Healthcare

It is no secret that the healthcare system is full of examples where a lack of systems thinking creates unnecessary difficulties for patients and healthcare providers alike. The following posts discuss such examples.

Why Mom loves the Emergency Room. – in which we use a tool known as a trade study to compare various modes of delivering healthcare, concluding that the emergency room is superior to urgent care, specialized clinics and doctor’s offices for many types of health problems.

What is a Trade Study? – in which I explain how a trade study is a tool we can use to help us make wise decisions.