Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
five iron with a single hand and my jaw is almost touching the grass. “I
haven't hit a five iron like that in years,” I think to myself in total shock. Let's
try that again, only I had better make a little change.
I put the five iron in the bag and pull out a six iron and go through the same
routine—same result, only this time I only fly the green by ten yards. “I don't
believe this,” I think to myself as the six iron goes back in the bag and the
seven iron comes out. A few minutes later, there are four balls all sitting
within four feet of the pin. I'm standing out in the fairway all alone with no
one in sight anywhere on the course and start laughing uncontrollably.
LESSON 1
We each have tendencies toward repeating specific weaknesses. Identify-
ing your unique repeating specific weaknesses is the first key step to rapid
process improvement payback.
I have found this true for both people and organizations. It might seem hard
to believe that after thirty years those same three things still affect my golf
swing. I can't explain why, but it's true both in my golf swing and in multiple
client organizations. I also believe my repeating specific weaknesses are
unique
to my swing. They are not something I have observed as weaknesses
in most golfers learning the game. It is important to understand you can use
the process I share, but you can't succeed by using my weaknesses. They are
unique
to me, and of little value to you.
I observe similar patterns in organizations—repeating patterns unique to
each organization. For example, at NANO,
4
the pattern of senior manage-
ment failing to adequately guide the organization at times of crisis, and at
GEAR,
5
the failure of engineering to ensure their work remains aligned with
the agreed to project management plan. The highest-value priority improve-
ments for GEAR differ from NANO.
I will explain later how you can find your repeating specific weaknesses and
how just focusing on these three areas helped to improve my golf game more
than I ever imagined possible given the time constraints I faced. First, I want to
share what led me to address these weaknesses, and key points I learned related
to how those weaknesses would continually find their way back into my game.
4. Refer to Chapter 6 for the NANO case study.
5. Refer to Chapter 7 for the GEAR case study.
