Evolve

I’m working on a short book, tentatively titled Evolve…

I use a set of principles in my work to help companies improve the way they manage their work while adapting to change. These principles are common to progressive practitioners in several different fields, such as software programming (Agile), manufacturing (Lean Manufacturing), product design (user-centered design), film and theater production, engineering, and even forest management (adaptive co-management). This book collects and summarizes these principles for managers who want to evolve their organizations and their skills through changing conditions.

  • There are times when working with a single other person – pair management – is better than working alone or with a team. Some professions such as police have a long tradition of working in pairs. Recently software programmers have started to practice pair programming where two people sit together and alternate roles of writing…

  • A group of people working as a team is often the best way to complete a project because teams can generate more work of higher quality than individuals or large groups. Do it now Form a team of people for a project requiring new ideas and more work than one or two people can do.…

  • Work alone

    There are times when working alone is more productive than working with a partner or a team. Working alone is useful when you need to expand on an existing idea, to carefully synthesize information, or do imaginative thinking. Working alone can also be useful to finish a familiar task quickly without interference. Working alone isn’t…

  • Working directly with other people to design or build something – co-creation – can produce significantly more productive results when creating a product than talking only. Do it now At the next meeting of your team, set a single goal for everyone to accomplish together. Post big sheets of paper on the wall and give…