Business Management articles: tips, advice, ideas, strategies & solutions
Follow us at

Subscribe to our Business Management Articles Feeds


Feeds

What's this?

Home > Business Management

Problem-Solving Success Tip: Measure the Right Things

Tweet This
thumb it up Jeanne Sawyer
Measure the right things. It's not enough just to measure—you have to measure the right things.

A common measurement trap is to measure something because it's “interesting.” If knowing a measurement won't change anything (e.g., help you make a decision, verify an assumption or prove the problem is solved), then don't waste your time measuring it.

Another common trap in defining the problem success criteria is to lose the direct connection to the problem. Somehow it's very easy to unintentionally expand the problem with general improvements that are good things to do, but aren't really necessary to solve the problem at hand.

Avoid these traps: once you decide to measure something always check back by asking yourself exactly what you will do with the results. Then ask the question in reverse: if you have a particular result, will it really enable you to make your decision, verify that assumption, etc.

With problem success criteria, cross-check your proposed measurements with your problem description. Everything in the problem description should be measured by the success criteria. Everything in the success criteria should measure some aspect of the problem presented in the problem description. If they don't match, your measurements are either incomplete, you're measuring something unnecessary, or your problem description isn't quite right.

HINT: “Everything necessary, nothing extraneous” should be your watchword. Measuring the right things will help make sure you solve the problem completely and don't get sidetracked into doing other things that won't help make this problem go away.

copyright 2009. Jeanne Sawyer. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author:
Jeanne Sawyer helps her clients solve expensive, chronic problems, such as those that cause operational disruptions and cause customers to take their business elsewhere. These tips are excerpted from her book, When Stuff Happens: A Practical Guide to Solving Problems Permanently. Now also an ebook, find out about it and get more free information on problem solving at her web site: http://www.sawyerpartnership.com/.
 

 

No. of Times this article has been viewed : 527
Date Published : Oct 25 2009

Most Recently Published Business Management Articles as of

Nov 20 2009    Elements of a Good Business Letter

by BMA Editorial Team

The essentials which go to make up a good business letter may be divided into two classes - mechanical make-up, and contents. Read on to learn more...

Nov 20 2009    Outsource Software Development for Significant Savings

by BMA Editorial Team

Since companies benefit from outsourcing, you would want to consider outsourcing to also be part of your company. However, you first have to know and fully understand how it can help your company and why this service is so in demand in the business world today.

Nov 20 2009    Establishing a Business Identity is Key to Success

by BMA Editorial Team

Taking the time to establish or develop a solid business identity will guarantee a more effective and profitable relationship with the public. It is what the law requires, the public expects, and a goal worth achieving.

Nov 17 2009    Finding Business Success in the Details

by BMA Editorial Team

Whether you have an online business or a brick and mortar, you have to pay attention to the details to find success.

Nov 17 2009    Effective Decision Making in Business Management

by BMA Editorial Team

Taking decision is always a risk. Time, money and other resources will be used as a result of a decision. In business management, taking decisions is one of the toughest jobs.

Nov 17 2009    Women Entrepreneurs and Their Greatest Starting Lineups: How to Hire a Champion Team

by Michele DeKinder-Smith

As a business owner, hiring a team can mean several different things. It can mean delegating, sharing and expanding. It may also mean balancing several personalities, keeping tabs on what everybody's up to and making sure things get done without micromanaging. So how do women entrepreneurs do it?

Nov 17 2009    Is Your Timing Keeping You From Being Successful In Your Business? Part 3

by Michele Pariza Wacek

There's a reason why product launches work and there's a reason why you reach more people (and make more money) if you control yourself, don't race through it and do it right. Here's why.

Nov 16 2009    SWOT Analysis- To Make Your Business More Profitable

by BMA Editorial Team

SWOT Analysis is a well-known method for describing a business or business propositions in terms of those factors that can have the maximum impact. The business owner does this analysis in order to improve the current position of the business.

Nov 16 2009    What You Should Look for When Hiring a Business Plan Writer

by BMA Editorial Team

Hiring a business plan writer has a number of benefits, including helping you to clarify your business expectations and making it easier to find financing and other support for your company.

Nov 9 2009    Performing Effective Collection: Make Sure that Your Customer Pays the Bill

by Adeline Mary

Getting paid is the toughest part to accomplish and it is the crucial phase of running a business. Especially during extenuating circumstances like a recession, most businesses are faced with a major disaster with debts not getting paid back by their customers.

Nov 6 2009    Buying a School

by Ronald White

Seldom thought of as an investment, private occupational schools can be a rewarding business for owners. This article analyzes the investment and provides due diligence and administration tips for owners.

Nov 6 2009    Does an Applicant's Education Predict Job-Related Intelligence?

by Michael Mercer

This article discusses the issues of pre-employment tests, intelligence and education as prediction for job success.

Nov 6 2009    Hiring a Winning Team: How Three Types of Women Entrepreneurs Put it Together

by Michele DeKinder-Smith

When it comes time to hire a team to implement a business' game plan and strategy, the business owner often has to have in place her own system for creating a team that will not only carry out what she wants, but will complement her unique style and mindset.

Nov 5 2009    Why Plan Anything?

by Colin Fell

Planning is simply a means to an end, with the aim being to influence the future by acting in advance. A sound business plan ensures that all key decision-makers have a solid understanding of the business, common fact base, and agree on important assumptions.

Nov 2 2009    Useful Benefits of Business Credit Card for Small Business

by Pamela Williams

Are you applying a business credit card for your small business? First, maybe you should try to look the best advantages that you can get a small business credit card.

12345678910...
Search for ebooks on Management & Business