What would happen if you integrated Agile into your improvement activity? In this episode, we explore how Lean Six Sigma and Agile methodologies work together.PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland shares a case study about an internal development team, initially hesitant to adopt Agile practices. By integrating Lean Six Sigma principles and embedding developers within the improvement team, they fostered collaboration and developed a visual management interface using low-code tools. This appro...

Do you ever wonder how some organisations adapt to change so effortlessly?PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland describes how Agile methodologies, rooted in the Agile Manifesto, combine with Lean principles to drive sustainable, customer-focused improvements. Tune in to hear why Agile Improvement isn’t a trend, but a powerful approach that can help organisations just like yours implement solutions quickly and effectively, using PDSA to refine and sustain progress, and thrive in dynamic enviro...

Think you already know how to unlock a team’s potential?Then you need to join Mark Allison; PMI Senior Consultant and experienced improvement team leader, for an engaging exploration that will reveal how you can truly optimise the performance of your team. Learn more about the delicate art of building strong relationships, how to uncover hidden strengths, and tips for navigating resistance to change, as Mark shares valuable insights that are the difference between a good team and a grea...

Your process data today is different from yesterday. But is an investigation worthy of your time?As an Improvement Practitioner, you already know that understanding variation is crucial and that Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts offer profound insights into process stability and performance – so what gets in the way of adopting SPC across your wider organisation?Whether you're facing resistance from teams, struggling with data overload, or unsure where to start, PMI Director Cons...

“Does Lean apply to me? It’s fine for manufacturing, but I work in the service industry.”Join Niall Coney, Consultant at PMI, as he challenges widespread misconceptions about Lean practices, exploring the origins and core principles, and highlighting their broader applicability. By emphasising the critical importance of understanding the "why" behind these tools, he offers compelling, real-world examples of their successful use in service contexts.Packed with thought-provoking insights ...

The way you present your project achievements could be the difference between driving impactful change and losing your audience entirely.Delve into the critical art of effectively communicating results with PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh. Drawing from his extensive experience and lessons learned, he offers practical advice on structuring presentations for maximum impact. Gain valuable insights on customising language to resonate with your audience and aligning your message ...

How do you deploy a strategy effectively and ensure it makes the impact that will elevate your organisation?In the final episode of our strategy-focused mini-series, PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly shares how you can transform your organisation's strategy into a clear, actionable roadmap that everyone can follow using the X matrix. This powerful visual management tool forms part of the Hoshin Kanri approach and plays a critical role in strategic alignment, communication, and measuremen...

How will you know that your reinvigorated strategy is an improvement? Join PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly in the next episode of our strategy-focused mini-series as he delves into the art of defining clear, actionable objectives. Discover how to harness the power of the 3 Question Model from Nolan and Provost to sharpen your strategy, as Des guides you through the essential questions: ‘What are we trying to accomplish?’, ‘How will we know that change is an improvement?’, and ‘Wha...

Developing a successful strategy requires the transformation of abstract ideas into actionable plans, and this is where the Affinity Diagram and the Interrelationship Diagraph are invaluable.Join us for the sixth episode of our strategy-focused mini-series as we move on to top tools for establishing the end goals and objectives. PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly reveals how AD and ID can foster consensus among senior leadership teams and pinpoint key drivers through converting qualitativ...

Are you aware of the invisible forces shaping the success or failure of your organisation's strategic goals? PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly delves into the transformative power of the Force Field Analysis tool as our strategy-focused mini-series continues. The conversation illuminates how this tool can uncover the driving and hindering forces that can significantly impact your organisation’s objectives. Highlighting the critical role of balanced group discussions and the inclusion of ...

The business landscape can make or break your strategy. So you need to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing your organisation in order to make informed decisions, identify potential risks, and leverage your competitive advantages.In the fourth episode of our strategy-focused mini-series, PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly continues his exploration of top tools for understanding the world in which we operate, showcasing SWOT Analysis as a powerful tool fo...

Understanding the macro environment is crucial for effective strategic decision-making, and PESTEL is a tool for helping you do this.Join us for the next episode in our strategy-focused mini-series as PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly discusses this comprehensive framework for analysing changes to the status quo, underscoring the necessity of using unbiased data to guide strategic choices.Are you ready to transform your strategy? PMI’s skilled consultants can help you turn your Goals int...

Are you proactive in identifying the forces that influence your business environment?By understanding and leveraging these forces, your organisation can navigate competitive landscapes more effectively and make informed strategic decisions that drive success. Join PMI Partner Consultant Des Kelly as our strategy-focused mini-series continues with an exploration of Porter’s 5 Forces. Des explores how integrating Porter’s 5 Forces with other strategic tools will enhance the robustness of ...

How do you ensure your business strategy is well-crafted and adaptable to the ever-evolving business landscape?In the first of a strategy-focused mini-series that will explore specific strategic tools and techniques, Des Kelly, PMI Partner Consultant, breaks down the three pivotal phases of strategy that every Leadership team needs to master: strategic analysis, strategic choice, and strategy implementation.Are you ready to transform your strategy? PMI’s skilled consultants can help you...

Have you ever questioned if your work is truly aligned with your customer's needs?Drawing on a coaching experience where a project team faced this very challenge, PMI Director Consultant Sean Buckland underscores the importance of defining value from the customer's perspective and differentiating it from the business's voice. Tune in for insights on identifying barriers and setting meaningful objectives for sustainable success.Related resources:Podcast: Understanding The Voice of The Cu...

Unlock the power of intrinsic motivation to engage your team in change.Join PMI Director Consultant and experienced Executive Coach Warren Knight as he shares valuable insights into the psychology of change. You’ll discover practical tips for empowering your team to not only accept but wholeheartedly embrace change to achieve organisational goals.More resources you may find useful:On Demand Webinar: Leading Leaders: How to Organise your Organisation in Change Infographic: The Response t...

Navigate the complexities of Control Charts with ease, as we clear up some common misconceptions. Drawing from years of experience reviewing, coaching, assessing, and approving projects, PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh reveals the most frequent mistakes he encounters so that you can recognise and avoid them in your own work. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out with control charts, this essential listen will enable you to confidently apply this key improve...

Is your data telling the right story? The shift from simple data tables to Control Charts is more than a mere change in data representation; it's a transformative step towards data-driven decision-making. This progression, PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh explains, stems from a growing awareness of variation and its impact on our processes.Join us for a powerful learning opportunity, as we share examples from clients around the world who have navigated the discomf...

Beyond its value as a statistical tool, the Control Chart is a symbol of excellence in operational efficiency and quality management that has shaped the world of Continuous Improvement.As we celebrate 100 years of Control Charts, PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh explores the history of Shewhart’s enduring legacy and gift to quality. Here are some more resources that you may find interesting:On Demand Webinar: Understanding Performance Using Control Charts Blog: 5 Ch...

Effective leaders recognise that their organisation's ability to improve is fundamentally based upon its ability to learn.  In this thought-provoking episode of Uncommon Sense, we delve into the transformative role leaders play in empowering teams to apply knowledge consciously, as PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight explains the changes you’ll need to make to transform learning from conceptual theory to embedded knowledge. Here are some more resources on this topic: Blog: Learn...

Process Operators are not just cogs in the machine.  They’re the heartbeat of an organisation; executing core processes and directly influencing the value delivered to customers.   Their work is vital, and as such, it demands a focus on standardisation, maintenance, and Continuous Improvement.  Join PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson as he discusses the role of the Process Operator, including why it’s crucial that they’re engaged in standardisation and improvement activities, and the...

Variation represents chaos and unpredictability.  So in our business systems, which require consistency and repeatability to enable improvement, the concept of variation and its impact on performance is crucial for our Leaders to grasp. Packed with eye-opening analogies, Director Consultant Warren Knight explains the complexities of variation, the significance of control charts and the long-term view, and why tampering with the system without understanding the root causes of variation is a...

Managing processes is as vital as managing people for keeping the gears of performance well-oiled and aligned with organisational goals.  Join PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson as he peels back the layers of effective process management and explores the iterative cycle of Standardise, Maintain, and Improve, and how mastering this triad can elevate your entire operation. Here are some related resources that you may find interesting: Podcast: Navigating Process Management Roles Video:...

Imagine your organisation as an orchestra, where each section must play in harmony to create a beautiful symphony. This is the crux of Systems Thinking in leadership. Packed with thought-provoking examples and practical tips, this unmissable episode with PMI Director Consultant Warren Knight highlights the transformative potential of a Systems Thinking approach from your leadership team. Here are some related resources that you may be interested in:  Blog: Why Self-Help Books Are Not for...