“If you want to retain those who are present, be loyal to those who are absent.” -- Dr. Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

“Learning cannot be disassociated from action.” -- Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline

“The most important measures are both unknown and unknowable.” -- W. Edwards Deming, Out of the Crisis

What is Great Systems! all about?

My focus at Great Systems! is simple -- I help organizations design, analyze, and improve the key systems that are used each day to create results. Examples of key systems include those that are used for leadership, planning, measurement, job design, planning, training, process improvement, customer satisfaction, communication, and associate involvement. In many cases, these systems are in place already - they just may not be designed or functioning very well. In other words, they are costing you a lot of non-value added time and money each day! Since 1980, I have been searching for the best systems, and I believe that I have found some great ones.

What have I spent my career doing?

I have spent twenty five years in manufacturing and service organizations, working as an Industrial Engineer, Production Manager, Plant Manager, Training and Development Manager, and Director of Quality. I have served as an Examiner (1998), Senior Examiner (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), and Alumni Examiner (2005) for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. I currently serve as Vice President of Continuing Education on the IIE Board of Trustees, and I have also served as national Board President and Executive Director of the Association for Quality and Participation. I am a ATM-Silver certified Toastmaster and a certified trainer for the Taproot root cause analysis process. Most importantly, I take time to “sharpen my saw” every day!

What are my product and service offerings?

I can work with organizations in three possible ways -- (1) onsite systems analysis / design, (2) online consultation, and (3) public / onsite workshops. In each case, I use a team-based interactive design to encourage involvement and the opportunity for skill practice. My workbooks are designed to focus on only the key information and to give their owner a chance for further skill practice. My intent is to give you the customer the greatest value I can.

What are my key “high performance” beliefs?

I would have to say that the works of Deming, Covey, and Senge form a foundation for what it takes to be a high performer from a beliefs perspective. If you read the books that these three men have written, you will get a pretty good overview of what I believe “works at work” as well. Most important however are my beliefs in (1) the untapped potential of all human beings, (2) the use of measurement and dialogue to understand systems, and (3) the need for simple systems.

How do I measure high performance?

Over the past fourteen years, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria have continued to evolve and improve. Today I feel the Baldrige process represents the best model for assessing performance excellence. In other words, if your organization can score well against the Baldrige criteria as they are designed, then you will be a high performer.

As I have learned more about the criteria as an Examiner, Senior Examiner, and Alumni Examiner, I have also discovered ways that small and medium-sized groups can use the criteria to begin improving their systems, and in turn their performance over time. Simple systems, designed and implemented correctly, can yield great results.

Most importantly, I believe that an organization’s people - its associates and customers - serve as the best gauges of high performance. Fortunately, the Baldrige criteria are designed to take this critical human dimension of high performance into consideration, even though it is much more difficult, if impossible at times, to measure.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Click on one of the following links to learn even more about Great Systems!:

	Back to the Great Systems! home page
	Performance improvement article library (> 50 articles!)
	Systems Change: The Key to Getting Better Results
	Do You Need Great Systems!
	Types of Systems I Can Help You Improve
	My Work Experiences

“The only thing I know is that I do not know it all.” -- Socrates