7 Principles for Improving the Flow of Knowledge Work

by Robert Damelio on January 13, 2010

I’ve significantly revised the earlier version of this paper as part of writing the 2nd edition of The Basics of Process Mapping.  The principles are the same, but I’ve added guidelines to each principle plus an example showing how one of my clients applied the whole set.

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I came across this question recently while I was scouring a site on the web.  I’m not sure I answered it there, but the question sure stuck with me.

I read a ton of books. (In Texas, we measure by weight, not volume)

Most are marked-up in various ways.  Highlighted, post-it notes, etc.  This is one indicator of use, I suppose.

Back to the question at hand.

I define my field broadly, i.e. performance improvement.  Within that, I’ve developed a fair amount of expertise in instructional design, process improvement, and to a lesser extent, change management.  Unless you are a potential client for one of these, in which case the order may change- I’m nothing if not flexible.

What does this have to do with the question at hand?

I still consider myself a student in these disciplines.  So I read a ton of books to keep up, as they say.

The one book I keep coming back to for instructional design, is Ruth Clark’s “Developing Technical Training.“  3rd Edition now.  I started with the first edition.  I keep coming back.

I not only find the content imminently practical, I also really admire the writing style.

Concise.  Conversational. Structured to facilitate learning, comprehension, and transfer.

Nothing like my post.

Ruth also practices what she preaches.

I guess the really good ones always do.

What is your one book?

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

November 23, 2009

I happened to be at the SME.org website a few minutes ago and saw that they sell the 4 Recommended Readings (books) used to prepare Lean Certification candidates to “sit” for the Bronze level knowledge exam.
They offer these books to SME members at a lower price than they do non-members.  You can buy [...]

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How much Waste is Present in the Work your Organization Performs?

November 22, 2009

A 1990 study published by Boston Consulting Group answered this question in part by what they referred to as the “05 to 5 rule.”
“Across a spectrum of businesses, the amount of time required to execute a service or an order, manufacture and deliver a product is far less than the actual time the service or [...]

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Identify and Remove Barrriers to Flow

November 22, 2009

As part of this principle, you first learn to recognize the various forms of waste present in the way work is done currently. Then, more importantly, you discover the cause(s) of that waste. Finally, you develop counter-measures that eliminate or reduce the impact of each cause and make adjustments to the factors that [...]

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What’s in the Business Process Improvement Workshop?

November 21, 2009

Thanks for asking!

The biggest challenge is distilling 50 years of combined consulting knowledge and experiences into 3 days of practical activities so that you leave ready to get results.

Here’s what we came up with:

Detailed list of topics

· Thinking in process terms – concepts, terminology, principles, and techniques
· Variations on [...]

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How to Improve Flow in a Business Process

November 21, 2009

If you wanted to improve flow in a business process, how would you do it?
1. What principles would you apply?
2. What steps or procedures would you follow?
3. What work products would you produce as a result?
4. When you assess a business process, where would you look, and what would you watch [...]

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Business Process Improvement & Lean Thinking!

November 21, 2009

What a great combination!
Who knows, it may turn out to be the “Reeses” of continuous improvement.
More and more people are searching for training that helps them apply lean principles to business or transactional processes.
So I created this 3 day workshop.
It draws upon my 25 years of improving business processes.
But, there’s more.
It also includes Alec Sharp’s [...]

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The Basics of Process Mapping

November 21, 2009

Here are the key features of the 3 types of maps that are in my book, “The Basics of Process Mapping:”

Relationship Map
CFPM or Swimlane Diagram
Flowchart

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Robert’s Lean Thinking Library

November 20, 2009

You’ll find the set of reference books that the AME/SME/SHINGO Lean Certification Alliance recommends here:
Robert’s Lean Thinking Library
What else will you find in the Library?
Many additional books that I use in my work as well.  I’ve made comments and observations on each of my suggestions, and in many cases described how the book relates to [...]

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