The current business challenge is: Lift annual performance in a work environment that requires agility and speed.  Lifting performance simply means all key performance indicators must be trending in “green”.

The key to success is establishing a Fast process. Repetition and success build a high performing culture and all work levels are actively engaged in making an improvement contribution.

Focus: Obtain agreement on the improvement areas that need to be worked on by selecting a priority “red” performance indicator. Divergent thinking generates factual information about the deviation and all the relevant factors need to be considered. Convergent thinking crystallises the core issues in the problem situation. Commitment must be reached on which issues of focus areas to be worked on and results expected.

Aligned contribution:  Assign a selected focus area to a team that is accountable for finding the root cause of any deviations and recommending the best balanced solution to deliver the improvement expectation. Potential problems need to be prevented and opportunities promoted. A high level plan must be designed and approved for implementation.

Steady flow:  Quarterly challenges are developed to build improvement momentum. Selected parts of the plan are implemented to deliver set goals. This follows an agile approach which ensures defined outcomes are delivered in regular time frames. 90 day tasks are designed and delivered in 30 day actions, with appropriate skills developed just-in-time.

Track: Performance is tracked and the impact on results assessed. The impact of the actions implemented is be assessed. Recognition for outstanding results is provided and results rewarded. A high performing culture develops with repetition and results.

For example, lift annual results by 30%. In this case it will be necessary to engage all staff in the improvement process. For example, front line teams will be required to improve workplace practices to increase performance by 10%. Supervisors will need to make a value adding contribution by lifting operational productivity. Management will be required to close the performance gap by implementing process innovation and change.