Manager Tools Theory of Management Constraints

Never again ...

Ok, dude. Last time I ever suggest increasing our spend rate! ;-)

Mike

Nice Touch with Video Blogging!

Thank you for sharing. Well done.

Cool

Nice to actually see what Mark looks like up close!

Resource constraint is probably the one I've experienced most in my career, more usually from an IT point of view (where the 'quart in a pint pot' metaphor is replaced by '1Tb datafile on a 100Gb filesystem').

On BBC Breakfast news this morning there was an item looking at different management styles.  A few interviewees described their ideal manager, which sounded very much like an MT manager: "A clear communicator who sets clear expectations [i.e. goals] and is friendly but not a friend, someone you can respect."  Some also described a nightmare manager, a description which included screaming and shouting at their staff to increase productivity (i.e. to produce more resource (work capacity) from their existing resources).

Stephen

Good stuff!

Good information Mark. There is definitely a lot of resource constraint and focus on doing the right things to remain profitable right now. Your explaination helps re-enforce what we've been getting from our bosses. I'd love to hear the upcoming casts about behavior in an economic downturn. Your tease at "don't complain" has me eager to hear more.

On a side note.. is it just me, or does this video remind you of the "E*Trade baby" commercials? ;-)

It's ok Mike!

It's alright Mike, we all learn together!

The format of the video blog is great, short and sweet and Mark, you're fantastic to watch also :p.

Maybe we can get Mike on camera also? ;) That sounds like a great idea!

Jorrian Gelink

Looking at something in a different way - always good

Mark,

Thanks for that gem. I had never seen that sort of relationship between resource constraint and productivity before. A very nice eye-opener for me. Over the last 6 months or so we have shed 20% of our workforce but we have maintained the output and quality of our products.

While I would be tempted to complain (and OK, probably have just a teensy bit) I can see now the benefits - it's forced us to think and act smarter in a number of areas of operations and that just plain good for business.

On a side note regarding the video clip itself, two things: Firstly, that you suggest you talked about something in the morning and recorded the clip in the afternoon, is great. Just *doing* it means that there's that much more of your wealth of information out there for us all, all the more quickly.

Secondly, and to be perfectly pedantic, I caught sight of the screen saver on your computer screen in the background (just by your left ear) and it was a little distracting ;-)

Thanks,

Peter

Excellent

I'm going to be reasoning about my work differently tomorrow than I did today because of this. Excellent. Thank you.

Just sent 2 More...

Folks-

I've just sent Mike 2 more.  We're eager to hear your thoughts so we can tighten our focus.

Mark