The Shock Would Kill Them
2 March 2011
When asked about the death of his closest friend, attorney Joseph Choate, Mark Twain said that Choate had tried telling the truth for the first time i…
Wrapping Their Heads Around Value
1 March 2011
by BILL WADDELL As everyone pursuing the lean path has known for as along as they have been on the path, the heart of it all is eliminating waste - a…
Making or Breaking Culture
21 February 2011
In one of the best performing companies I have worked with it was within a very few hours of my arrival for my first visit that I heard the story. A f…
I'll Take Waste For $400, Alex
17 February 2011
The geeks are giddy at the news of Watson - IBM's multi-million dollar entrant in Jeopardy - thoroughly trouncing a couple of smart guys. Some in…
All Idiots Think Alike
16 February 2011
If you haven't done so already, you should try to catch an episode of An Idiot Abroad on the Science Channel. Comedian Ricky Gervais sends his nai…
How To Tell Your Assets From A Hole In The Ground
15 February 2011
by BILL WADDELL I had an email from a reader a little while back asking Kevin and me to delve into how bankers are stifling lean. My answer to the q…
Managing Customers Is Always a Bad Idea
9 February 2011
by BILL WADDELL I received an email from a reader by the name of Alex Anderson writing about an article he read in the Washington Post. Apparently t…
Clunkers and Roses
7 February 2011
I came across this article explaining why roses cost so much more on Valentine's Day than any other time of the year. The answers ... "Each p…