Getting Back to the Basics
 As complexity grows you often hear this phrase.  It’s time for us to get back to the basics.  This month we are offering you a unique opportunity to do just that.  During the early fifties, the US labor force was primarily composed of machine operators and skilled craftsmen producing products in factories.  Today that labor force is dominated by Clerks and professionals working with information in offices.   

There were people working with information back in the fifties as well.  They were a relatively small group.  Of the nine labor force categories the clerks were number four and the professionals were number six.  But, these two groups were growing at roughly 2 ½ times the rate that the labor force was growing and today they dominate the labor force.

Back in the fifties, the focus of productivity efforts was on the factory and there were many different approaches to achieving it, each claiming huge benefits.  Meanwhile, things were relatively quiet on the office (information processing) side of the business.  That is no longer the case today.  With most of the labor force working with information, that side of the business has become a multi-billion dollar battle ground of competing solutions.

What we are offering you today is a chance to return briefly to a quieter time and read the words of Ben S. Graham, Sr. (1900 – 1960) as he outlined the basics of what was needed to manage the information of his time.  As you read it, if you will mentally think the words “information processing” each time you read the word “paperwork” you will find it thoroughly appropriate for today.  And, I hope you will find truly important meaning in his focus on the use to which information is put.  What follows is my father’s writing, unedited. -- Dr. Ben S. Graham, Jr.

Read the complete paper...

Musing¹

Let's Be Objective About This...
The more complex the issues, the harder it is to be objective.  Today in the world of information processing there is so much happening with so many conflicting solutions competing for adoption it is very easy to lose objectivity.  Too often, managers are tempted to close their eyes to viable options as they buy into expensive but ineffective ones that have been presented convincingly - solutions that use expensive software and equipment to do work that could be done better in less time with less effort and cost.  Occasionally the expensive buy-in simply speeds up unnecessary work.  Common sense has given way to impressive but inappropriate answers.

We avoid this by keeping our focus on our own operations, making sure that the solutions we buy into will truly fit our needs.  And, as we study our operations, questions such as, “What is the value we want to get out of this process?” keep us honest and objective.

If you have comments or thoughts you would like to share with our readers, send them to: Here's a thought...

On the Road to Mastery

Business Process Mastery Workshops 
There is still time to join us at one of our two public workshops remaining this year - in Santa Clara, CA and in Dayton, OH...   If you are serious about developing your process improvement skills quickly, join us at one of these hands-on workshops where you will draw process maps, participate in a role-playing analysis session and be involved in discussion and exercises that address all the phases of an improvement project.

We are extending a special offer on both US workshops.  Receive a free copy of Graham Process Mapping Software (regularly $495.00) with your registration ($1195.00/attendee) or if you already have the software, register for all 3 days for only $700.00 -Call 800-628-9558 today to reserve your seat.

US Workshop schedule   ...Overview

Software
Graham Process Mapping Software is the only process mapping software available that is document-focused.  If you would like to try out the best process mapping software available, you can download a fully-functional 30-day evaluation copy here:

Graham Process Mapping 7.0

If you are using Graham Process Mapping 7.0, open the About window and click on 'Check for Updates'.  This will take you to the Updates page where you can download the latest update.

I wish you the best with your process work.

Ben B. Graham
ben.graham@worksimp.com

1 This month's Musing contributed by Dr. Ben S. Graham, Jr.