Simpler 101http://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/en-US2010-02-09T00:13:12ZSquarespace Site Server v5.9.1 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Often Smaller is better than Biggerhttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2008/12/26/often-smaller-is-better-than-bigger.htmljacquard2008-12-26T16:29:00ZThe manufacturer wanted to test a significant number of marketing techniques and tactics in order to understand the range of opportunities for influencing a variety of consumer segments. But one of its key retail partners was reluctant to undertake the months of effort that traditional multi-site, in-store pilot programs require. The high number of proposed initiatives (originally 50, subsequently winnowed to the 20 most promising) heightened the perennial risks of confusing customers with different messages in different stores and of tipping off competitors about the retailer’s plans. Furthermore, the retailer had recently hired a new category buyer, whose focus was rapidly increasing category sales—not turning its stores into a massive shopper-marketing laboratory.

Pasted from <http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Using_technology_to_improve_in-store_marketing_1976>

Source: Using technology to improve in-store marketing (http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Using_technology_to_improve_in-store_marketing_1976)

]]>Why is it better to have round manhole covers than square ones?http://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2008/12/26/why-is-it-better-to-have-round-manhole-covers-than-square-on.htmljacquard2008-12-26T16:16:00Zcreative thinking

This is logical rather than lateral, but it is a good puzzle which can be solved by lateral thinking techniques. It is supposedly used by a very well-known software company as an interview question for prospective employees. Solution A square manhole cover can be turned and dropped down the diagonal of the manhole. A round manhole cannot be dropped down the manhole. So for safety and practicality, all manhole covers should be round.

Another answer is also that they can be rolled around to save lifting them.....

Pasted from <http://www.mycoted.com/Manhole_Covers>

Source: Manhole Covers (http://www.mycoted.com/Manhole_Covers)

]]>Quotehttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2008/5/27/quote.htmljacquard2008-05-27T23:39:00Zquote

I have made this [letter] longer, because I have not had the time to make it shorter.Blaise Pascal   (1623 - 1662), "Lettres provinciales", letter 16, 1657

Source: http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26931.htm (Quote)

]]>Concisehttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/10/22/concise.htmljacquard2007-10-22T00:14:00ZMy youngest son and I attended his high school's Jr. Class College Preparation Program. While the speaker was talking about the essay questions on college applications my son told me of his friend.

The friend applied to his number one choice. The application's only essay question was "What is your favorite word? And Why?

The Friends response "Concise. It is short."

He got in.

]]>Quotehttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/10/4/quote.htmljacquard2007-10-04T22:17:00Zquote“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.”
Amelia E Barr. English born American Writer and Journalist, She wrote historical fiction such as Remember the Alamo (1888). 1831-1919

www.thinkexist.com

]]>Take away the netshttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/7/30/take-away-the-nets.htmljacquard2007-07-30T22:52:00Zcase in pointIn an earlier post, our client successfully acquired the simpler PC-based CAD (computer aided design) system. They passed on the premature major CAD CAM purchase

Phil is the engineer on the system. At one point, they were correcting 11% of his drawings. The general manager asked him why. Phil simply said "each of my drawings a reviewed at least twice by salesman and supervisors. Given that process, I treat each drawing as a draft."

When asked what would happen if we took away the check steps, the simple answer was. "I guess I would have to do it right the first time. It would seem quicker."

Believe it or not it worked well. Let people know you are taking away the nets.

]]>Eliminate review stepshttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/7/30/eliminate-review-steps.htmljacquard2007-07-30T22:38:00Zcase in pointSounds crazy! You can make things simpler and better by eliminating review or check steps. Some stay, most go. They occur from a situation, an exception or when employee was new. The idea is, by eliminating you reduce the process steps in time and work and improve quality.

Improved quality?

Keaton was the customer service manager for a printing supply distributor. She proposed to the owner and president she be allowed to approve customer credits up to $500 from $35.

Fortunately, everyone asked her why before they said no. "Customers object to long return processes. If you solve issues immediately you can replace the product and possibly make an even in larger sale." That was easy to buy.

But she was not finished

"Today how many credits do we process over $35? How do you review them? How many do you approve?"

"I did the research. We process an average of 270 credits per month. I use months, because it is your approval process cycle. I put them in your boxes, and once a month you to review them. This interferes with the entire concept of customer service."

Just as the president and owner are prepared to commit to doing it every week, she chimed in "you have never turned one down."

Think of the things that didn't have to be done!

]]>Strategically simplerhttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/7/30/strategically-simpler.htmljacquard2007-07-30T22:19:00Zcase in pointAmong the most powerful simplification concepts is DFMA -design for manufacturing and assembly. The focus is reducing the number of parts in a product design. The place to look is a company named Boothroyd and Dewhurst. In preparation for one of our quarterly executive development session they used one of our most popular products. In two weeks of preparation they had reduced the part count from 76 to 42 parts.

They modestly suggested
"we don't know the part as well as you, therefore, we may have taken some inappropriate shortcuts". No one wanted to challenge.

Their point less parts to pay for, no purchasing support, no moving or storage costs. Less parts require less assembly, have no inventory requirements and on.

Stroll through what is possible. They of course are their best spokesperson. Go to their website http://www.dfma.com/ to see examples of meaningful successes among products you know. These are great examples of marrying "what is possible" to simpler101

 

President George Bush awards the founders of Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc., the National Medal of Technology "for their concept, development and commercialization of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA), which has dramatically reduced costs, improved product quality, and enhanced the competitiveness of major U.S. manufacturers."

 

Source: http://www.dfma.com/ (DFMA)

]]>Simplicity - Why People Fear it so Muchhttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/6/10/simplicity-why-people-fear-it-so-much.htmljacquard2007-06-10T14:04:00ZPsychologist John Collard of the Institute of Human Relations at Yale University described seven kinds of common fears . ( All of us have some of them .)

1. Fear of failure

2. Fear of sex

3. Fear of self-defense

4. Fear of trusting others

5. Fear of thinking

6. Fear of speaking

7. Fear of being alone.

It would appear not seeking simple solutions-stems from number 5 , " fear of thinking " Where are snakes and heights?

"The Power Of Simplicity: A Management Guide to Cutting Through the Nonsense and Doing Things Right." Jack Trout . Check out Google Reader

]]>Have Some One Else Do Ithttp://www.jacquard.com/simpler101-blog/2007/6/10/have-some-one-else-do-it.htmljacquard2007-06-10T14:00:00Z
There are two key headings here
1. Delegate and Develop - see Possibleness
2. Using the bounty of the nets - here

A powerful habit is to look at the various Google offerings. For the uninitiated just pick one that looks interesting and play. For the experienced Google Labs is where the fun is.

Today's Discovery - Google Reader
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