Without getting into the details of data analysis and statistics, I have introduced just a few things that you might watch out for as you interpret the data collected after performing the selected actions for a significant period of time – at a minimum, 6 to 10 data points.
At this time it’s appropriate to do a review and make any adjustments. Based on your measurement system you will repeat this review periodically until you have achieved the benefits you set out to achieve, or have decided to abandon the initiative.
- What has changed since you set up the improvement process?
- Is there anything that is obviously not working or is causing problems?
- What is obviously working or beneficial?
- Does the data analysis support what seems to be obvious?
- Are there any clear trends emerging compared to the baseline?
- Is there anything about the measurement system that needs to be adjusted?
- Do you need to collect information for a longer period of time to establish a new baseline before making further adjustments?
- What do you need to try to make sure that the effects you are observing are a result of the cause you believe is at work?
- What are some alternate explanations for what you are observing?
- Have you performed several improvement cycles and reached the end of your exploration such that it’s time to end this initiative and shift your focus to something different?
Exercise
1. Answer the above questions for your improvement initiative.
2. What questions would you add to the review?
About Learning
Learning can be unpopular with those around you. As you dig deeper and get into the habit of asking questions, you might:
a) quite simply know more about the world than you used to
b) start to question and understand the underlying reasons why things work or don’t, how they came to be the way they are
c) be able to define problems in new ways and find alternative solutions
d) begin to develop a better sense of the different possibilities about how events might unfold
e) develop a new sense of the probabilities of those possibilities
f) identify positive and negative, intended and unintended, consequences, in a broader and deeper way
g) start shifting your priorities and choices about how you spend your time, effort, money
These shifts in habits and beliefs may reduce your compatibility with, and appreciation for, people in your social and professional circles. This is a natural process of learning and maturation, and some relationships may need to be transformed or let go.