“5 on 5” The Continuous Improvement Cycle

When playing a game of “5 on 5” in basketball, the key to success is for the team to work well together, utilize the strengths of each of the players and repeatedly work their process as defined by the coach. As the process is repeated over and over again through the course of the season, the really great teams “develop a chemistry” which is something that is unseen and unquantifiable, but which gives the team an edge over its competition and leads to success.

The same is true in the business world for companies that want to improve and succeed. A business team needs to work well together, utilize the strengths of each of the team members and use a process that is repeated over and over. The following continuous improvement cycle used repeatedly will lead to a new “chemistry” within the organization so that the culture begins to change to one of continuous improvement.

“5 on 5” - The 5 Step Continuous Improvement Cycle

Define
1. Identify the target process
2. Organize and improvement team
3. Describe the issues, concerns or opportunity
4. Collect current performance data
5. Create a process map

Identify
1. Identify the process customers and suppliers
2. Define the process inputs and outputs
3. Identify wastes and value added activities
4. Define the process requirements
5. Generate a list of potential improvements

Select
1. Establish desired performance goals
2. Prioritize the potential solutions
3. Establish the selection criteria
4. Select the best solution(s)
5. Define the desired process

Implement
1. Develop an action plan
2. Develop process performance metrics
3. Document the solutions(s)
4. Test the changes
5. Implement per the action plan

Evaluate
1. Measure progress per the action plan
2. Compare results with desired performance goals
3. Establish ongoing feedback
4. Determine corrective actions that need to be taken
5. Repeat the cycle to define new opportunities


The key to really being successful using this process is the very last step – going back to the beginning and looking for new opportunities. Without this, it is one-time change, not continuous improvement. All too often companies declare victory when a change is complete and sit back for the new status quo to set in rather than taking another look at things to find more opportunities. By using this cycle on a formal basis over and over as problems or opportunities are addressed in the organization, inherent use of the cycle will begin to occur since people will become accustomed to it and the culture of the organization will begin to embrace the idea of continuous improvement. This resulting chemistry that begins to develop will be unseen and unquantifiable but will provide an edge for the organization so that it can succeed within itself and against the competition.

Basketball anyone?

The Strengths of Operating as a Team

Wikipedia defines a team as a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team. Teams normally have members with complementary skills and generate synergy through a coordinated effort which allows each member to maximize his or her strengths and minimize his or her weaknesses. These can be independent or interdependent, self managed, project related, sports, or even virtual in today’s electronic age.

In business, teams have various roles to accomplish that include:

• Problem solving
• Looking for improvements
• Providing leadership
• Giving focus to specific issues or functions
• Leading in change management

Effective teams are ones that are carefully organized, have clear rules of conduct, utilize practices for having effective meetings, and properly utilize team operating processes such as problem solving, situation assessment, and decision making. Teams also need to avoid the various dysfunctions that build on each other which include:

• Absence of trust
• Fear of conflict
• Lack of commitment
• Avoidance of accountability
• Inattention to results

Although teams have some pitfalls as part of their nature, such as taking longer to make decisions, the benefits of an effective team outweigh the risks:

• Teams provide a broader look at solutions
• Teams will tend to balance out the risks
• Teams usually provide better collective judgment
• Group participation leads to better understanding of the problem and decision
• Involved people will better accept the change required and lead others to the new way

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