I have been quizzed by some readers, “What do currencies in general – and the challenges facing the Euro and its member countries in particular – have to do with Operational Excellence?” For that matter, what do discussions that involve “geo-politics” have to do with Operational Excellence? Both are very fair questions.
The nation of Greece is bankrupt. Let’s just say it plainly and simply. Let’s not use “poli-speak” words aimed at soothing the sting or trying to maintain someone’s self-esteem such as; “insolvent”, or “challenged”, or “bust”. And let’s be even more plain, any manner of restructuring of debt, other than “arm’s length” transaction, is the admission of…
Several years ago, a good friend of mine invited me for a “guy’s weekend” in Atlantic Citywhere we were to stay at the Tropicana. It sounded interesting enough as he and I always had a few laughs together and I had never really been to a casino before. In fact, when we arrived at the Tropicana, one of…
People are naturally seduced by a “deal”. We gravitate to signs in stores and on billboards that proclaim, 50% off” or “Buy-one Get-one”. We like to think that we are paying far less for something that we have a right to – that somehow we got the “better” of our opponent. We take a smug…
Recently, whilst working with the Global Planning Team of a major oil company, we were asked, “What is the cost of complexity and what is the effective range on this cost?” At one level, the answer is easy; “It is the cost associated with having more than one customer and product. The more complex the supply chain,…
