Continuous Improvement is a fundamental concept in the world of Lean and Agile methodologies. It revolves around the idea of constantly striving for excellence, optimizing processes, and enhancing overall efficiency. In this article, we will explore the core principles of Continuous Improvement, the continuous service improvement process, its components, and how to create an environment of continuous improvement. We will also delve into the importance of adopting a continuous improvement mindset. (more…)

• Productivity is down over the last two years and continuing to decline.

• 66% of employees do not feel engaged.

• 80% of strategies don’t realize their intended value.

• 60% of CEO’s don’t believe their team does a good job of implementing strategy.

These are compelling numbers that all business leaders should take note of. These numbers are worse today with the significant shift to remote work in the post pandemic workforce. Are these numbers a result of poor strategic plans? In some cases, yes, but in the majority of cases, it is the result of a poor implementation and engagement processes. During my 45-year career, I have seen that poor implementation is because of a lack of focus on people and organization – the bridge between strategy and results. (more…)

1. 1. Identified large growth opportunity in a downward market.
   2. Market study on how to differentiate in the market through supply chain.
   3. New business and supply chain strategies.
   4. Defined strategies for leveraging installed base.

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1. Business Growth Accelerator Podcast – Isar Meitis
   • Defining a cohesive business strategy is not easy, but implementing it is even harder. After successfully implementing business strategy in major companies, Jim Gitney perfected the process and wrote a book about it – “Strategy Realized – The Business Hierarchy of Needs – Turning Strategy Into Results”. In this fascinating interview, Jim shares a detailed blueprint on how to successfully implement business strategy. He developed a concept he calls the Business Hierarchy of Needs® (the business parallel to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs). This is a highly practical episode with a step-by-step process you can follow, with great examples and powerful business concepts.

About Jim Gitney:  Jim Gitney is the CEO and Founder of Group50^® Consulting, and the author of “Strategy Realized – The Business Hierarchy of Needs®” which summarizes a framework for creating a business that leverages topics in this article. (You can find out more about the book and acquire a copy by clicking on the image to the right).

Founded in 2004, Group50®consulting is focused on working with middle market companies to significantly improve their productivity by leveraging people, process and technology as part of a company’s strategic plan.  Group50® consists of consultants who have spent their careers in corporate America learning how to optimize businesses.  We specialize in working with senior leaders to develop and implement strategies that accelerate top line and bottom-line performance.

Strategic thinking, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and employee engagement have many things in common. They are all driven by a core set of inextricably linked operating principles. They: (more…)

Question: Does your company have an opportunity to streamline business processes and staffing?

Answer: Every company has the opportunity to streamline business processes and staffing, regardless of what the economy is doing.

In every business we have worked with over the last 20 years, (more…)

Change happens. Every business environment requires continuously changing strategies, processes, tools and skills. Implementing a Continuous Improvement program is one way a company can harness their response to change and create competitive advantage. As companies launch Continuous Improvement programs, they need to have a plan. Effective programs require the following 5 elements leading to successful and sustainable (more…)

At Group50®, we have brought back to life an old form of Value Stream Mapping called the Brown Paper Exercise. Long before computers were invented, the only way to do Value Stream Mapping was on paper.  Utilizing paper allows you to be produce maps that are not limited to the size of a computer monitor or projection screen. It is interactive, fun and can be done via a hybrid model of in-person and virtual. 

Group50’s Brown Paper Exercise is an important tool that we use every day in process reengineering. It is part of our Value Stream Mapping process.  It provides an engaging, non-threatening way for (more…)

We recently worked on a project that required the integration of two $30M companies. Both had grown to this size in a short period of time and had systems that supported their individual sizes relatively well. When the two were combined, they pushed across an inflection point. An inflections point is when a company’s systems, business processes and organization structure are struggling to support the size of the company and are incapable of supporting future growth to the next inflection point. (more…)

In the next few weeks, companies with under 500 employees will start receiving payments from the Paycheck Protection Act and all companies will continue to make important decisions on how to structure themselves to deal with the current downturn and prepare themselves for the future (Here is one view of the future (more…)