Management System Improvements (4 Interlinked Phases)
D. Brown Management
March 9, 2025
Many improvements fall short of expectations because steps are skipped in the earlier phases. Following these four phases will result in faster overall adoption of the changes, better outcomes, and most importantly, development of the team.
management process value stream workflow
Progressive Questions for Interviews, Evaluations, and Development
D. Brown Management
March 9, 2025
Asking progressively higher-level questions helps assess capabilities while allowing you to stop before making the other person feel inadequate. These questions are valuable for development—answering them is like exercise for the brain.
interviews talent
Work Observations and Time Studies (Basic Overview)
D. Brown Management
February 15, 2025
Work observations and time studies are related but distinctly different. Both are incredibly powerful tools for management, process improvement, and talent development. Starter resources and use cases below.
lean management
Creating Potential and Delivered Value for Contractors
D. Brown Management
February 10, 2025
We are contractors and the contract is a tangible representation of potential value. That value is delivered when the right information, materials, and equipment come together at the right time in the hands of the right craftsperson for installation.
Alignment from Strategy to Execution
D. Brown Management
January 18, 2025
Misalignment between how projects are estimated and how they are built creates subpar outcomes at best and sometimes results in catastrophic failure. Alignment is not a task to be completed. It is an ongoing process starting at the top.
accounting estimating management planning strategy
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
Exploitation involves choosing the best option based on current knowledge of the system which may be incomplete or misleading. Exploration involves testing new options that could lead to better future outcomes but drawing resources away from exploitation.
execution leadership planning
What Are You Optimizing For?
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
Prioritizing is about sequencing. Optimizing is about balance. Both are defined by your values, strategies, and objectives. Both are constrained by your finite resources including talent and capital. Start by knowing what you are optimizing for.
career strategy talent
Missing Person Protocol
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
One of the biggest challenges of growth is keeping an ever-increasing number of people aligned. With nearly everyone being over-scheduled and focusing on competing priorities, a missing person protocol is critical for successful meetings and decisions.
management
Directly Responsible Individual (DRI)
D. Brown Management
January 3, 2025
Defining a single Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for an outcome is a foundation of effective process and organizational design. It is often misused when the individual doesn't have the right capabilities, capacity, authority, or management.
management
Short-Interval Plan (SIP) Workflow vs. Tool
D. Brown Management
January 2, 2025
Few things will improve project outcomes more than intentional planning and deliberate execution of your Short-Interval Plans. (SIPs). The SIP tool is the tangible task, the workflow is the much more valuable piece that creates great outcomes.
productivity schedule