The Basics of Process Improvement

by Tristan Boutros, Jennifer Cardella

Unlike other books that promote a specific process and performance improvement discipline, this book shows organizations how to achieve success by fixing basic operational issues and problems using a broad and wide-sweeping process-based toolkit. In addition, it helps individuals who have worked in stale- or siloed-thinking enterprises make the transition to a process or improvement-oriented culture and teaches those who are unfamiliar with process tools to look at their work with a new lens and adopt a continuous improvement and analytical-thinking mindset. The authors have successfully used the various methods, tools, and concepts found in this book to overcome practical, daily problems at various organizations. This book will surely help operators, managers, practitioners, and executives, who are charged with improving processes and workplace culture, produce better products and services.

258 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2016

Reviews

[Katerina Molchanova · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a collection of random process-related topics and tools. It's a lot of contradictions, and there are no clear methods. I expected better based on reviews...
And oh yeah, by the way, the book teaches how to set up an organizational strategy and change the organizational culture along with process improvement:-D

[Annastew1144hotmail.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the risk of being flippant, the book communicates exactly what it intends to do. It's underpinned by a thorough knowledge of the principles behind process improvement and would prove a good investment for both early adopters and more knowledgeable practitioners who want a refresher on the basics. In terms of presentation the book is first class, well indexed and a pleasure to read.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book and it really let me down. There were tools and they were laid out for reference but brief reference and never explained in depth. An in depth explanation of the tools and examples of them in use would have made this book 700 pages but 700 pages worth reading.
The entire chapter on Architecture is difficult to read and follow. I think I would need to be spoon fed the information by an actual industry expert to understand the point they were trying to convey.
Is the book useful, yes. In a basic sense. There are better books out there so read the reviews on them and get them first.

[Charlie Beals · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas in the beginning, but became quite repetitive in the second half. Would recommend for anybody bored at work who wants to make work more process-oriented (likely making work even more boring, but maybe you get a raise in the process).