High Output Management, Andy Grove
(back to books)
- Substrat: adapt or die
- 3 basic ideas:
- 1) apply methods of production for output-oriented management
- 2) work is pursued by teams
- 3) team peak performance is elicited from individuals
- productivity = sum(Li x Ai) (sum of activities times leverage of activities)
- leverage can be time-sensitive, e.g. preparing a meeting, somebody quits
- negative leverage: emotionally charged leadership, waffling, meddling, bad preparation
- high-leverage activities: concentrating on stars, recruiting, talking stars out of quitting (drop what you're doing; ask him why he is quitting; ask some more; don't try to change his mind; buy time), performance reviews
- classify activities as low-/medium-/high-leverage. Do less low leverage activities.
- methods of production:
- set of good indicators/measurements: rigorous monitoring + variable inspection is cheaper than gate-like inspection
- material becomes more valuable as it moves through process: don't let substandard material proceed
- make irregular things regular: prepare standard responses
- performance review:
- single most important form of task-relevant feedback
- assess performance (not potential), drop less important feedback
- strive to be achievement-driven (not competence-driven)
- give subordinate written review before
- helpful:
- 1-on-1: subordinates provide supervisor with outline in advance
- "operation review" meeting: keep teaching/learning going between people
- generate inventory of pending decisions you are responsible for