http://prhconsulting.com/blog leveraging know-how for performance! Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:06:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The goal is to figure out how to eliminate or minimize "Category 1 Tasks," that is, things that you have to do, but don't want to do...or maybe a better way to say it is "but wouldn't do if you didn't have to."  Examples of Category 1 Tasks include things like - Laundry - Shopping - ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2008/11/13/how-to-eliminate-or-minimize-category-1-tasks-stuff-you-have-to-do/ Just a thought--people often complain about complexity. We don't like complex instructions. We don't like complex explanations when we want someone to do something for us. As a rule, we don't like politicians to give us complex scenarios regarding the economy or foreign relations. But, listening to sports fans discussing strategy ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2008/08/28/complexity-good-or-bad/ Tom Gilbert, in his book "Engineering Human Performance," asserts that the purpose of performance improvement should be to generate leisure. It could be argued that this is the purpose of time management as well. Unfortunately, the reality is that, because we exist in a competitive enviroment, any time that is freed up by performance improvement (or ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2008/07/26/real-time-management/ One of the toughest decisions is whether to use paper or electronic tools for running meetings, managing to-do's, even taking notes. Paper wins for speed, flexibility, and the ability to look at more of it at once...you can spread it out. Electronic wins though for portability...and who doesn't want to eliminate ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/11/15/paper-vs-electronic/ Well actually, GTD is great. (GTD is a personal productivity system by David Allen...sort of like time management for the internet age.) I bought the book on CD and have listened to it multiple times. (Partly because one hearing was not enough--it is hard to grasp this kind of information by ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/11/01/what-i-dont-like-about-gtd/ It is much easier to do something well when nobody is bugging you...isn't it? Look at Rex Grossman, Bears (sometime) quarterback. Every mistake he makes is analyzed in the media until I would have to imagine he can't do anything without second-guessing himself. If you watch other teams play, it ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/10/12/does-pressure-improve-performance/ Ok...I am all for quality improvement and a systematic approach to in. So in a way, I am actually a fan of Six Sigma...but sometimes it justs annoying.  For one thing, they get all the cool projects. Before there was Six Sigma, you could identify a way to improve things, figure ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/10/12/why-six-sigma-is-annoying/ What is a performance test? A performance test is esssentially a checklist of key performance characteristics that define the criteria for successful performance. The checklist is used during observation of performance (or to review the result or output of performance) to assess whether the performance is acceptable. Performance tests can be ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/06/22/why-performance-tests-are-better-than-knowledge-tests/ May 1-3 was the ISPI International Conference, held in San Francisco. We presented on three topics in which the common themes were performance testing and qualification and rapid, object-based design and development. We have sort of backed into performance testing through our experience in working with clients in regulated industries. Performance testing ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/05/07/ispi-conference/ One of the biggest complaints we often hear when we design a modular curriculum is that it is too complex. First of all, every job I have analyzed is pretty complex so why wouldn't a comprehensive curriculum to capture and distribute that know-how be complex also? But PLEASE!! Listen to conversations between ... http://prhconsulting.com/blog/2007/04/18/the-real-world-isnt-simple/