Out of the Crisis.Org

[Louis Altazan]

Observing other businesses can lead to new ideas and improvements. This can be very helpful, but can also have certain drawbacks, if not properly thought through. I think it is important to understand why businesses are set up in the manner they are and how each component inter-relates.

As an example, there were two service businesses operating in the same town. They were nearly equal in sales and similar in size. One of the business owners became involved in a continual improvement program. His company worked very hard and made several fundamental improvements. Within a few years they were clearly doing well and growing rapidly. Soon they added a second shift to handle the extra work.

The other business somewhat alarmed at the progress of the competition, decided to see what was going on. He called the owner, met with him and had a tour of the facilities. Of everything he saw, what he noticed was the double shift. Without understanding, he reasoned this must be the “trick.”

He returned to his business and instituted plans to open a second shift. Predictably this did not help, and increased cost considerably. Though he looked, he failed to see the extra shift was the result of the improved service and not the cause of it. After losing a great deal of money, he returned to one shift. He is now planning to move down the street from his competitor, maybe it’s the location?

There is nothing wrong with looking for ideas. I think it is important realize there are causes and not see only results. Results are normally the consequence of hard work, applied with meaningful theory and over time. Lacking any of the three, results will normally be disappointing.

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Louis Altazan
Owner/Manager AGCO Automotive Corporation
Baton Rouge, LA

[dharman]

I always discourage people from "copying symptoms."

Copying symptoms is what I call it when people copy others results that they see, rather then looking at the causes of those results. The cause is always the first factor. After cause comes the result.

People are always copying what they see at first glance. They rarely look deeper. If they were to look farther, beyond the obvious, they would see that there are many factors contributing. Many things work together behind the scenes to create the final product.

Let's focus on our own goals, and quit focusing on others.

-Dwayne

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Dwayne Harman
Business Manager
Carriage Works
Ketchikan, AK, USA

[Louis Altazan]