Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Understanding the Need for Change

2. Performance Self-Assessment

3. Keys to Success

4. Business Process Revolution Methodology

5. Summary

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

Before beginning the campaign, we must first determine where to begin. The following self-assessment is intended as a high-level look at the performance of the reader’s corporate engine (i.e., the processes). The readers must score their answers to any or all of the questions in accordance with the directions, total their scores, average them, and evaluate against the criteria provided.

Assessment

1. Engineering development projects are completed on or ahead of the original schedule and meet time-to-market windows.

	1.	never
	2.	less than 25 percent of the time
	3.	less than 50 percent of the time
	4.	less than 90 percent of the time
	5.	more than 90 percent of the time

2. Product requirements are clear, documented, and seldom change.

	1.	never
	2.	less than 25 percent of the time
	3.	less than 50 percent of the time
	4.	less than 90 percent of the time
	5.	more than 90 percent of the time

3. The development process (requirements definition to product availability) is well documented and followed.

	1.	not documented
	2.	partially
	3.	poorly
	4.	adequately
	5.	exceptionally

4. Adequate development resources are available and assigned throughout the life of an engineering project.

	1.	never
	2.	seldom
	3.	sometimes
	4.	more often than not
	5.	always

5. The number of problems identified in the field (field trails and full availability) are which of the following:

	1.	excessive
	2.	not getting better
	3.	needs to be better
	4.	acceptable
	5.	nonexistent

Note: To self-assess the engineering development process only, readers should stop here, total their scores, average them, and proceed to the evaluation section.

6. Product delivery to the customer is on or ahead of customer specified schedule.

	1.	never
	2.	less than 25 percent of the time
	3.	less than 50 percent of the time
	4.	less than 90 percent of the time
	5.	more than 90 percent of the time

7. Inventory as a percent of revenue is which of the following:

	1.	increasing
	2.	constant
	3.	improving less than 20 percent
	4.	improving less than 40 percent
	5.	improving more than 40 percent

8. Business unit financial objectives (revenue, cost, profit) are achieved:

	1.	never
	2.	not always
	3.	by cutting costs
	4.	sometimes; two out of three is not bad
	5.	consistently

9. Relative to competition, we are which of the following:

	1.	trying to catch up
	3.	keeping even
	5.	clearly the leader

10. Overall, I would say the company is addressing issues to make my job easier and help make me more productive.

	1.	strongly disagree
	2.	disagree
	3.	neutral
	4.	agree
	5.	strongly agree

Evaluate Your Score

Using the average score, readers should evaluate themselves against the following:

• greater than 4—The reader is an innovative market leader who has the vision and leadership to benefit from the dynamics of the market.
• between 2 and 4—The reader is in need of business process revolution in one or more process areas. Improvements are needed to meet delivery commitments and remove friction between organizations and within processes to meet the reader’s corporate objectives and improve customer satisfaction.
• less than 2—The reader must act immediately. Revolution may be the only salvation, but it must begin at once.