Add Breakthrough Solution Cost-Reduction Capability
Topics: cost, profit, speed, improvements, entrepreneur, leader, manager, planning
Most organizations have only one person in them who knows how to create breakthrough solutions. Why? These individuals have usually learned about and created breakthrough solutions on their own, away from the spotlight that normally surrounds major new initiatives. Such breakthrough solutions are what I like to call “stealth” initiatives, which talented organization members are using to create increased organizational effectiveness.
However, when isolated from organizational sponsorship, these individuals are highly unlikely to expand this problem-solving knowledge within the organization. Why? These talented solvers have valid reasons not to do so, unless they happen to own the firm.
Here’s one reason: Most careers are helped by being able to produce truly astonishing results that no one expects. By keeping quiet about the source of their success, these breakthrough solution cost reducers are able to climb quickly up the organizational ladder from one promotion to another. Their organizations appreciate and reward the results they see without understanding the source of the results. At the same time, the organizations fail to understand that virtually everyone in the organization could be producing similar results in a multitude of areas.
If the problem solver lets everyone in on the secret, there goes the easy route to the top. It’s a rare individual who will take that step.
There’s also a disincentive for problem solvers to become involved with educating others. Most problem solvers just want to get on with accomplishing something important. Training others often feels to talented breakthrough solution creators like not doing anything very useful.
There’s another hurdle: Even if you understand how to do something, you may not be able to explain what to do to someone else. Since most such problem solvers have little background in helping others learn, the solvers are naturally reluctant to put effort into extending their skills in this new way. If solvers prove to not be very good at educational assistance, they have just created a failure on their record. Why would anyone want to take that risk of failure unless they owned the firm?
Another barrier is crossing functional lines. A few confident problem solvers simply share the opportunity with colleagues in other parts of the organization and engage their support. Most solvers, however, stick to improving activities pursued by those who report to the solver. As soon as problem solvers run out of areas where they can make direct improvements, the solvers are done with making breakthrough solutions.
A more significant barrier is avoiding embarrassment to others. If you show someone else they could be doing the work 20 times faster or better, in many cases you’ve made the person feel incompetent. If the people involved are notoriously thin-skinned, few will propose improvements because of the potential to be caught in a backlash from those who feel embarrassed. Yes, some organizations do shoot the messenger.
How might these barriers and limitations be avoided without drawing all of the fuss, skepticism, and expense that comes with an officially sponsored activity? Undoubtedly, there are more ways to do this than I’ve thought of or seen, but let’s start you off with a brief list of opportunities that have worked well:
-Find a life-saving application.
-Explore an injury-avoiding opportunity.
-Identify a way to avoid environmental pollution and make profitable use of what would otherwise be wasted.
-Present the process as a possible methodology for a task force that’s unclear about how to proceed.
-Introduce the methodology to those who are missing their goals by a wide margin and are likely to be demoted or fired unless they quickly improve.
-Use the methodology to deal with a crisis that requires quick action.
-Make courses based on the breakthrough solution methodology available to those with budgets in your organization to pay for personal learning.
For entrepreneurs, there are some additional choices worth considering:
-Build improved business models around 2,000 percent solutions for expanding the market size, customer acquisition, and cost reductions.
-Direct mandatory training and assignments in creating breakthrough solution cost reductions.
-Offer training to partners, suppliers, distributors, and other key stakeholders with incentives for improved performance.
-Hold contests for the public to propose breakthrough solutions for key activities.
Donald Mitchell is an author of seven books including Adventures of an Optimist and The 2,000 Percent Squared Solution. Read about creating breakthroughs through 2,000 percent solutions and receive tips by e-mail by registering for free at
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Basics Of Home Equity Loan (1)
However, as discussed, you should always remember that you are in fact using your asset (in this case your house) to exchange for loans. You will eventually lose your home if you are not able to settle the monthly payment!
The Big Seven For Targeted Traffic (2)
Seek out sites with a good page rank. Offer to exchange links for mutual benefit. If the site is of a better rank than yours, offer more back links for their site in exchange for a certain number for you on their site.
How Legal Funding- Lawsuit Funding Helps The Plaintiffs? (3)
If the plaintiff does not win their case, they do not owe any money to legal funding company. The money that was advanced by lawsuit funding is not owed.
Choose The Mini's For Your Dental Implant Needs (4)
The product was finally introduced in a dental conference in 1999. Mini dental implants have been considered a miracle option to many. The procedure has been said to take roughly an hour, and it requires no incisions into the gums.
The Pros And Cons Of Joining The Clickbank Brigade (5)
Topics: registration, commission rates, payouts Clickbank is the largest affiliate marketplace on the internet. It allows thousands of vendors to put up their products and services for sale and many affiliates to earn money by promoting the products of these vendors.
Breaking The Law For Peanuts (6)
When paying points, borrowers are "buying down" the interest rate. The longer they have the mortgage, the more beneficial the rate "buy-down" becomes. In a typically buy-down, one point (1% of the loan amount) will "buy down" the interest rate approximately 1/4 of 1%.
The Pros And Cons Of Affiliate Programs - Getting Started With Caution (7)
It is already made accessible to them. Customer Information The Pros and cons of affiliate programs go like this. As an affiliate you may not have an existing website with a lead capture page, instead you may just have a URL that you can use to send leads and sales inquiries to the product owner's website.
Building Credibility - Your Key To Online Business Success (8)
Submit a Press Release If you are establishing a business write up a press release about it and submit it for publication on the internet and in email. Post to Forums Seek out large, highly active forums that are related to your niche.
Does Your Website Accept Credit Cards? If Not You May Be Flushing Cash Down The Toilet (9)
Another bonus is that some of the better processing companies also provide total automation solutions for your site, automating ad tracking, email lists, auto-responders, etc. This frees your time to do more important things, rather than working on the minutiae.
Gardening - Know The Facts About Gardening! (10)
Exclusively made tools for unusual gardening chores or for reaching difficult areas c. Gardening implements fashioned out of different types of materials d. Bulbs in kaleidoscopic hues, which bloom at various times of a year e.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Selling Something? Signing Up With Clickbank (1)
How To Set Up Shop On Clickbank Once you have decided to market your products through Clickbank, how do you go about it? It's simple, just follow these steps: 1.
Malta Notches Up Record Year For 2007 Holidays (2)
A surprise for many who have driven in Malta is that the report considers the island's roads to be safe. But this is backed up by official EU figures showing Malta has the lowest road related fatalities in the EU.
Online List Building Tools, The Pop In (3)
Most Internet users have seen them so much now that there reflexes take over when they first appear. On the other hand if you let your visitor have time to look over your page and allow the pop in window to appear as they exit the page, I think you will have a better response.
How You Can Use RSS To Help Your Blog (4)
Topics: Court's Internet Marketing School, internet marketing , internet marketing tips The Internet contains millions of web sites that publish content and display information about many different topics and themes. Even though there is so much knowledge available to people who search through the massive online world, the problem comes from sorting through all of the web sites in order to find exactly what you are looking for.
Organic Or Chemical - Which Fertilizer Do You Prefer? (5)
Cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, manure, sewage sludge, and cottonseed meal are examples of organic fertilizers. These substances are naturally high in phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium, which are the three chief nutrients required for plant growth.
Tactical Knives Variety For The Collector And Practical User (6)
The entire knife, when expanded is a mere 7.9 inches. But how can you defend yourself with such a small knife as this? It packs a powerful sharp punch and police officers around the country are now carrying it in their utility belts or around their necks in the holder it comes with.
Developing Your Home Based Internet Business Plan (7)
However, keep in mind, a cheaper price isn't always your best option. Many times, you will find that your potential customers will judge the value of your product by the price.
A Guide To Vacations In Aspen Colorado (8)
TravelUSA.com too gives relevant information about Aspen Colorado. This travel guide lays emphasis on available transportation, entertainment, parks, museums, professional sports and teams. This Aspen guide provides more information about the type of lodgings that a traveller can expect to find, the names of best hotels, condos and resorts in Aspen.
NFL Fan Gear For Women (9)
In the past when joining a group of friends for Sunday's games I've always shown up wearing big, baggy jerseys or sweatshirts several sizes too large and unflattering. It shows my team spirit of course, but leaves me feeling like I wore my pajamas to the game.
Golf Traps - Some Tips To Help You Stay Out! (10)
NO matter how well everything goes, even the best golfer can find himself (or herself) occasionally stuck in a sand trap, stuck in the grass or trapped behind a giant tree on the golf course.
Permalink to Add Breakthrough Solution Cost-Reduction Capability