Tip of the Hat to Catalysis

By Pascal Dennis (bio)

“We want to transform the healthcare industry to deliver higher value through experiments, collaboration and education…”

A mission driven person and organization can change the world & that’s what Catalysis is all about.

Dr. John Toussaint, Kim Barnas, Helen Zak and the rest of the team are trying to change the healthcare world through experimentation, collaboration & education.

It’s a daunting task, and one that requires tenacity and courage.  (Our Lean Pathways crew have found healthcare transformation to be our toughest & most rewarding assignment.)

I’m lucky enough to count several Catalysis leaders as friends, and can attest that they have the above qualities in abundance.  (They merit even greater respect when you realize they don’t need to do any of this & could pass the time on the beach sipping mojitos…)

I’m please & honored, therefore, that Catalysis on-line bookstore is carrying Andy & Me and the Hospital, the latest Tom Papas & Andy Saito adventure. Order here.

Tom & Andy get pulled into a major New York City hospital in crisis – chaos ensures.  It’s my best book.

If you’re interested, please give Andy & Me and the Hospital a gander on-line at Catalysis.  Yes, it costs a couple of bucks more here than at Amazon.  But you’re helping out a splendid organization that’s making the world a better place.

A tip of the hat & a deep bow to the splendid folks at Catalysis.  Full speed ahead & long may you run.

Best regards, 

Pascal

Andy & Me and the Hospital – now available!

By Pascal Dennis

There is much opportunity, Tom-san!
Andy Saito

Dear friends,

I’m thrilled to announce the release of Andy & Me and the Hospital – Further Adventures on the Lean Journey [Amazon and Productivity Press].

Tom Papas and his sensei, Andy Saito, face perhaps their greatest challenge yet – a major New York City hospital.

Why a book about Toyota methods (aka ‘Lean’) in a hospital?

Because health-care is a dark realm full of opportunity. If we don't get it right, it could bankrupt us.

Why this book?

I want to answer some basic questions. What does a Lean transformation in a hospital feel like?

What overall approach should we take? What kind of leadership and behavior change is needed?

How do we develop and engage people? How do we improve processes?

How do we build a management system? How do we translate what Deming called the ‘profound system of knowledge’?

At the same time, I want to provide a clear and simple guide to Toyota methods and thinking, how they fit together, and the spirit that animates them.

Why a sequel to Andy & Me and The Remedy?

People seem to like Tom Papas and Andy Saito, and they’re like family to me now. Moreover, their journey is perhaps a useful metaphor for leaders at all levels.

Gave it everything I got. Hope you find it enjoyable and helpful.

Best regards,

Pascal

PS Special Offer from my publisher:

Please feel free to contact Charles Regan at the Taylor & Francis group for a bulk offer or customized version of Andy & Me and the Hospital,

E: Charles.regan@taylorandfrancis.com
P: 917-351-7122

Pascal Dennis Bio

Andy & Me and the Hospital – and the Great Paradox

By Pascal Dennis

Just sent the manuscript for Andy & Me and the Hospital, the latest Tom Papas-Andy Saito adventure, to my publisher.

God-willing, the book will be published in early Spring 2016.

The ‘Great Paradox’ of Health-Care is a central theme. As Tom puts it, “How can there be miracles within the silos, and disaster across them?”

Tom is referring, of course, to the epidemic of medical errors, infections, mis-medications and the like that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

(The epidemic is almost certainly as severe in other countries, if not more so.)

How indeed can this be?

Health care workers are among the best educated and most capable in all of industry. They’re committed and caring and use the best and latest technologies.

Something is rotten in the state of Health-Care.

Tom Papas and Andy Saito are on the case.

Keep you posted.

Best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

New Book Update - Andy & Me and the Hospital

By Pascal Dennis

Hi folks,

Resurfacing at last after an intense summer working on Andy & Me and the Hospital, the latest Tom Papas and Andy Saito adventure.

First draft complete, working on the doodles and images with our splendid artist, Dianne Caton.

What’s the book about?

A major New York City hospital is in crisis. Tom and Andy get pulled in to help save it.

Tom is also in the midst of a personal crisis. Will the new challenge save or destroy him?

Why a book about Toyota methods and thinking in Healthcare?

Healthcare defines Lean’s frontier. The challenge, and opportunity, are immense. Moreover, if we don’t get it right, Healthcare could bankrupt us.

Why this book?

I want to answer some basic questions. What does a Lean transformation in a hospital feel like? What overall approach should we take?

What kind of leadership and behavior change is needed? How do we develop and engage people? How do we improve processes?

How do we build a management system? How do we translate what Deming called the ‘profound system of knowledge’ with our healthcare colleagues?

At the same time, I want to provide a clear and simple guide to Toyota methods and thinking, how they fit together, and the spirit that animates them.

One of the problems with Lean implementation has been the tendency to cherry-pick activities, rather than grasping the system as a whole.

What are the next steps?

Dianne and I will complete the doodles and figures and submit to our publisher. We’ll then get review copies out, after which we’ll adjust and polish the book as needed.

God willing, Andy & Me and the Hospital will be available in early 2016.

Best regards,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

Reprise: What is Big Company Disease and how do we get it?

By Pascal Dennis

Big Company Disease (BCD) is the antagonist in The Remedy, and the toughest opponent Tom Papas and Andy Saito have ever faced.

BCD infects companies once they reach a certain size. In a small business, you typically can see your customer and supplier.

You get to understand them and appreciate that your success depends on them. It keeps you humble and hungry to improve.

In other words, in small companies it’s much easier to develop & sustain direct, binary, self-diagnostic connections between suppliers & customers (both internal & external).

My favorite example of these is my Dad at the Imperial Grill, looking into each plate as it came back.

Did the customer eat everything?

If not, why not? He’d usually ask them directly. “Hey Mabel, why didn’t you finish your moussaka?”

Once a company grows to multiple sites, perhaps in different countries, and multiple divisions – customers and suppliers lose touch.

You can't wrap your mind or your arms around the organization. Out of site is out of mind. So you optimize what you can see -- your zone.

With the best of intentions, we optimize our unit -- often at the expense of overall effectiveness.

Not all big companies have BCG -- but all are prone to it.

We have to work hard to dispel the anaesthetizing fog, connect with our customers, make our purpose and our problems visible.

Lean Thinking & Lean Tools are geared to do this.

Then we have to continually work on our connections, and on involving everybody in improvement. It wakes us up.

Next time, more on The Fog…

Best,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

The Remedy – Four Year Anniversary!

By Pascal Dennis

Four years ago this week, I received my 1st Copy of The Remedy – Bringing Lean Out of the Factory to Transform the Entire Organization. I was blown away! 

Wiley & Sons have outdid themselves. The cover, content, drawings etc. were everything I'd hoped they'd be. 

All the hard work & heart ache, the endless hours researching & writing faded away.

I was proud of the Lean Pathways team, who have taught me so much, and of Dianne Caton, artist extraordinaire, who made magic out of my chicken scratch drawings. The Remedy remains one of my favorite books.

Why write a book about Lean outside the factory?

Because that’s where the opportunity lies. Upstream - in marketing, design, and engineering. Downstream - in distribution, sales, and customer service. 

These, together with health care, service, and government, are Lean’s frontier. I am less and less a factory rat. 

Every core lean principle applies outside the factory. But business processes are harder to fix.

Why a sequel to Andy & Me?

The characters of Tom Papas and Andy Saito seemed a natural vehicle. Readers seem to like them, and I do too. 

We’re still emerging from an economic catastrophe, which claimed many great companies and put millions of people out of work. 

Lean has the potential to reduce human misery and increase human happiness by doing more with less, while providing meaningful work. 

That’s enough for me.

Why should people read The Remedy?

It's a straight up book from the head & heart.

 An honest story about real people trying to implement Lean outside the factory. There are study questions at the end of each chapter – and Dianne’s splendid doodles.

Pardon the plug, but it’s a damn good book.

Best,

Pascal

Pascal Dennis Bio

The Remedy - Audio Book Now Available!

By Pascal Dennis

Trust the year's started well for everybody.

All good in my neck of the forest.

Pleased to report that The Remedy - Bringing Lean Out of the Factory to Transform the Entire Organization, is now available as an audio book!

Kent Cassella does a splendid job narrating.

Tom Papas and Andy Saito come to life, as do Taylor Motors, the Humpty Dumpty Bar & Grill, and the Iron Horse Tavern!

I couldn't help smiling...

Thanks to Kent, and the teams at Wiley & Sons and Audible.com

Best regards,

Pascal

Tom Papas & Andy Saito - Ten Years Later

By Pascal Dennis

About ten years ago I had an idea for a novel.

I envisioned an auto plant manager whose life was in shambles, and a damaged ex-Toyota executive.

A deshi and sensei coming together in an unlikely friendship, and helping to heal one another thereby.

I saw a New Jersey auto plant in a death spiral, full of tension, despair and waste, unable to right itself despite the best of intentions.

These images became Andy & Me, whose characters and factory came to life for me.

Andy & Me was awarded the Shingo Prize and was commercial & critical success.

I was a bit shocked. Didn't think anybody would care for a 'factory novel.'

The characters, Tom & Andy, seemed to strike a chord. I'm been humbled by the personal feedback I've received.

I remember a young engineer who told me she cried when Andy revealed his 'secret' to Tom.

(Was it that bad, I wondered? Then I realized she had been moved in a good way!)

Tom & Andy's adventures continue in The Remedy - Bringing Lean Out of the Factory...

Tom & Andy take on not just a factory, but an entire automotive platform.

I wanted to express what I've learned working upstream & downstream of the factory.

The economic chaos of 2008 and 2009 informs The Remedy.

How could the splendid, historic Detroit auto companies have fallen so far, I wondered?

In fact, Tom & Andy seek the remedy to Big Company Disease.

Again, your response has been very kind. (Thank you.)

Where will Tom & Andy go next?

Not sure -- but they're up to something...

Best,

Pascal