What can we learn from pigeon poo?

What can we learn from pigeon poo?

The statue of Abraham Lincoln is being worn away due to constant scrubbing to clean off the pigeon poo. The pigeons were there because of the spiders, and they were there because of the midges and they were there because of the lights at dusk. If the lights were switch on one hour after dust the statue of Abraham Lincoln would not be worn away.

The story illustrates why it is important to dig deeper, to ask why, perhaps many times to get to the source of issues. We instinctively know that finding the source of something is key to gaining control or power and yet our attention is often focussed on the symptoms. Moreover a focus on what we perceive (with all the prejudices and bais that comes with that) and stereotypes, can blind us to what is true but ostensible hidden.

If a project isn’t going right then deviations of time, budget and specification are obvious tell-tale signs, but they are seldom the core of the problem. You might question, More time to do what?  More money to buy what? More detail to achieve what? The answers to these questions may set you on the right path.

I recollect a project where everything seemed to be going on-time, on-budget and to-specification when it suddenly occurred to the Project Manager that the separate components of the project didn’t fit together. Each component looked ok in isolation but when pulled together it was apparent that the outcome wasn’t going to meet the agreed goals.  

Many businesses suffer a silo approach to quality where each component or process is honed to perfection but having the best wheels, the best engine and the best body-work doesn’t necessarily make the best car!

The statue of Abraham Lincoln, the business with silos of perfection and the project whose components don’t fit are all lessons in the need to balance the big picture with important detail.

7 Top Tips

Big Picture

1.       Be clear about who the customer/consumer is, who is the arbiter of what is right or wrong?

2.       If unsure about who the customer is, ask who is providing the money?

3.       Be clear on the customers’ needs: why do they want what it?

4.       Be clear on the intended outcome: preserve statue; successful project; popular car.

Important Detail

5.       Be prepared to dig a little deeper to understand the critical success factors.

6.       Don’t forget to involve the technicians to check what is intended is actually possible.

7.       Remember that the solution must be suitable, feasible and acceptable.

Tim Rogers

Founder ciChange

timrogers@ciChange.org

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CI-Change-4301853

ciChange seminar and networking events for 2013 sponsored by Total Solutions Group http://www.tsgi.co/