Lean Means The Aggregation of Marginal Gains, Continuous Improvement
CASE STUDY: GRANT WRITING
54% New Development Applications
A team of employees sat around our Executive Conference table looking at walls covered with paper mapping out the current state of grant writing. A couple of months earlier, my most experienced writer had accepted another job and was leaving. I asked her if she would stay and explained what I wanted to do. This Kaizen was me following up on my commitment after she said she would stay.
After 3 days we came up with an innovation that we developed collectively using my experience, a Kanban White Board. After we achieved an improved process, the Kanban board was used to let every employee using their services what expectations were, the status of each project and when commitments were due. One of the pervasive problems in writing grants is coordination of the many contributions needed. Program managers, finance staff and leadership needed to meet their committed times for contributions to meet deadlines.
The improved system delivered. We asked 54% new sources for financial contributions. Our rate of acceptance for grants improved substantially. Our biggest surprises came from 2 unsolicited grants.
After one of our new grants allowed us to open a rural Domestic Violence Shelter, a national grant funding source contacted us and said they wanted to be a part of our success.
More recently, the organization received the largest grant it has ever been awarded from a foundation.
CASE STUDY: MONEY IS MISSION CRITICAL
In businesses, financial reporting critical. You need to account for what you earn and spend plus see the future needs. Month end reports are critical to meeting this need. Unfortunately, most organizations don’t deliver timely reports. I have always received reports around 15 to 16 days after the previous months end.
With a wonderful CFO willing to take a risk on improving delivery of the month end report, we went through a Kaizen over 3 days. Despite initial skepticism, the team used a unique process map focused on a Zero-based calendar. Day Zero was the last day of the month. By rearranging reports and adopting true materiality requirements, we were able to map a 5-day month end report, or a full 320% improvement.
The amazing result? The CFO for our subsidiary for profit immediately achieved a one day close, or a 1500 to 1600% improvement.
Having quick access to financial data makes planning for future needs more effective. If you are an innovative and creative CFO wanting similar results, call me for a free consultation.
Motivational Interviewing, Humble Inquiry and Lean Thinking
Respectful conversation in a safe environment without judgments are rare and wonderfully productive. Since most of the conversations I engage in are one directional and I rarely felt heard, I like to define how a conversation should be conducted when I can.
Motivational interviewing is a powerful tool for helping an individual define and accept change. One commenter set out 3 positive outcomes. [Miller and Rollnick, 2013]
· MI is a guiding style of communication, that sits between following (good listening) and directing (giving information and advice).
· MI is designed to empower people to change by drawing out their own meaning, importance and capacity for change.
· MI is based on a respectful and curious way of being with people that facilitates the natural process of change and honors client autonomy. [Website: Excellence in Motivational Interviewing]
Edgar Schein developed the system of Humble Inquiry to bring the same considerations into business. Respectful and safe discussion lead to employee acceptance, especially when they are allowed to learn the tools and techniques for improving their workplace and engage with their peers to establish how their work can be structured.
Lean Thinking uses respect for people in this way. And the tools and techniques used by employees come from a variety of sources used in a systemic way of continuous improvement. If you are looking for employee engagement, and this interests you, give me a call for a free consultation.