TwinBrains

Where left meets right.

Collaborative Process Improvement

Abstract

       This book provides a human approach for building effective processes by using Collaborative Process Improvement (CPI) techniques.  Rather than relying on specialized quality departments, CPI methods engage each employee in the process of delivering a quality product by collaboratively updating tasks and activities to include essential improvement elements.  In this way, each individual and group can map their work world, analyze it, and then recombine their way, each individual and group can map their work world, analyze it, and then recombine their maps to build a complete world.  This laymen’s approach has been effective in building improvement processes into the daily work life of every worker.

 

           The initial idea of Collaborative Process Improvement was enthusiastically received during a presentation in 2005 at the 3rd World Congress on Software Quality in Munich, Germany.  The immediate interest expressed along with the continued request for additional information has been a driving force in the creation of this book.

 

           The book includes:

· Understanding how to map your own world

· Establishing Advocates and Champions

· Training the organization

· Acknowledging cultural diversity

· Managing change

· Encouraging continuous process improvement

· Spreading the improvement initiative

· Determining measures of success and evaluating the people and process

· Getting behind your customer’s eyes to see their view of Quality—the Q-Files

· Uniting your individual and group maps

 

           The book’s approach and style evolved from the authors’ hands-on experience in software, semiconductor, and computer industries.  Each chapter closes with a chapter summary and aids such as checklists, templates, exercise, tips and pitfalls to facilitate quick execution of the topics discussed in the chapter.  Most importantly, the book addresses quality in human terms and gives the reader real world examples that are tangible and understandable to anyone regardless of their role in an organization.

 

           This book helps the reader relate to what quality means to the end user and provides tools and methods to integrate the face of the  customer into the inherent processes in an organization.