This is on my Power List for the next month.
This is an idea triggered by memories of Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints.
First things first
If you want to make improvements in a process, you must address the most important bottleneck first. If you fix a less important bottleneck first, you just increase the backlog behind the most important bottleneck.
If you find things getting worse as you do your process improvements, you’re not addressing the critical bottleneck, but you have identified it.
What should I do first?
This is an experiment for 30 days to see what my mind tells me is the most important bottleneck at work.
The “output” we are trying to maximize is the speed (or profitability?) (both?) (something else?) of conversion of a unit of human attention (by us) into a final statement of “thank you” (by the customer) following delivery.
This definition of desired “output” (i.e., “What is your Quest?”) is likely to change in the next 30 days.
How to?
LFG.
Daily Reminder on my phone to answer this question. Daily answer in a folder in Apple Notes. A review and synthesis on Day 31.
Postscript
This is a cunningly-created (accidentally) “five whys” exercise. I hope it will help me dive deeper into the reflexive answers I give myself because they make me feel good about myself.