Continuous improvement was the ride, but now it’s time to embrace disruption.
Ever find yourself at a conference, wandering around and wondering, “Where’s the real substance? And must it always be this dull?” Or, to put it in a less serious tone: “Where is the beef?”
But let’s remember—it’s the holiday season! Yes, even the most dedicated automotive industry members deserve a breather, however brief.
We’ve put together a short, light-hearted presentation meant to bring a smile to your face 😀.
For those of you looking for the answer to the question of what CORE SPICE is and why it may be relevant for you, marked with our usual level of seriousness and professional insight, join us on April 9th at noon (12:00) at the embedded conference in Nuremberg, Germany. We’re excited about the opportunity to connect with you there! 👍
Listen up, folks. I’ve been around the automotive block more times than I can count, and let me tell you, the old mantra of “continuous improvement” has served us well, but it’s time to shift gears. Don’t get me wrong; Lean, Kaizen, and all those Japanese efficiency methods were game changers back in the day. Hell, I remember when we implemented them in one of my projects – it was like a freaking renaissance, with quality and productivity soaring through the roof.
But here’s the cold, hard truth: we can only squeeze so much juice out of those proverbial lemons before we hit a wall. I’m talking about that dreaded “local maximum” that efficiency geeks like me fear – a plateau where all the incremental tweaks in the world won’t cut it anymore. And let’s be real, no manager wants to backtrack from their hard-earned gains, even if it means breaking through to something truly revolutionary.
Efficiency is all well and good, but in this day and age, it’s effectiveness that’ll make or break us. Have you taken a good look at what’s happening out there? The EV revolution from China, that maverick Elon Musk shaking things up with his Teslas? It’s a wake-up call, people. The old guard needs to adapt or get left in the dust.
That’s where this “systemic thinking” jazz comes into play. Instead of treating our processes like a linear assembly line, we need to start seeing the big picture – how everything interconnects and impacts each other. It’s not just about optimizing individual parts; it’s about reimagining the whole DANG system from the ground up.
And let me tell you, Core Spice with that fancy ECST tool? That’s the kind of disruptive mindset we need to embrace. It’s like they’re giving us the keys to rethink our entire approach, to break free from the shackles of convention and blaze a trail towards true innovation.
Look, I get it – change is scary. We’ve all got our comfort zones and our tried-and-true methods. But here’s a harsh reality check: the future belongs to the bold, the risk-takers, the ones who aren’t afraid to fail and get back on their feet again in pursuit of that elusive “global maximum.” If we don’t shake things up, we’ll be left in the dust by the upstarts and disruptors.
So, let’s channel our inner rebels, shall we? Let’s take a page from Ackoff’s book on systemic thinking and start looking at our challenges with empathy, collaboration, and a deep understanding of how everything fits together. Only then can we truly push the boundaries of what’s possible and redefine the future of our industry.
No more weaseling our way out of it. No more hitting the breaks. No “more of the same” anymore.
Now, who’s with me?
Let’s start a conversation on LinkedIn or X.com (formerly Twitter).
I am a project manager (Project Manager Professional, PMP), a Project Coach, a management consultant, and a book author. I have worked in the software industry since 1992 and as a manager consultant since 1998. Please visit my United Mentors home page for more details. Contact me on LinkedIn for direct feedback on my articles.
