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  • 1.  Evaluating several management tools / techniques

    Posted 07-25-1997 03:06
    Dear listers,

    I am currently conducting a research to compare / evaluate several different
    management tools / techniques (can it be done???), such as benchmarking,
    process re-rengineering, TQM etc. in order to find out their pros, cons,
    constraints, timing of applications, etc. Some criteria will be set to
    evaluate their performance.

    Since I am new in this area, any leads to past or current research works,
    relevant publications, contact names etc. are highly appreciated.

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Patrick Fong
    __________________________________________________________
    Patrick S.W. Fong,
    Assistant Professor,
    Department of Building & Real Estate,
    Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
    Hung Hom,
    Kowloon,
    HONG KONG.

    Tel: +(852) 2766 5801
    Fax: +(852) 2764 5131 or 2764 2572
    E-mail: bspafong@polyu.edu.hk


  • 2.  Evaluating several management tools / techniques

    Posted 07-25-1997 11:11
    Patrick et. everyone,

    Perhaps you should refine the descriptors first.

    "TQM" is passe'
    "re-engineering, engineering, and engineer"
    terminology verbage for commercial purposes is illegal
    in 49 of our 50 US states.

    o workers *hate* buzzwords
    o please go for concepts not buzz

    <sigh>

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Best Regards,

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Pat Gantt, VoTech Guide
    Personal email ~ pagantt@worldnet.att.net
    The University of Tennessee, M.S. HRD
    VoTech Guide ~ The Mining Company
    Business Mail ~ votech.guide@miningco.com
    http://votech.miningco.com
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    GO VOLS! Don't ask Peyton who!


  • 3.  Evaluating several management tools / techniques

    Posted 07-26-1997 16:24
    Patrick S.W.Fong wrote I am currently conducting a research to compare /
    evaluate several different
    management tools / techniques ...
    I have a theory (and it is just a theory) that almost any effort that provides
    structure will produce an improvement. I would be curious to know if your
    research sheds any light on this theory.
    I would also like to say I disagree with Pat Gantt who replied
    "TQM" is passe'
    "re-engineering, engineering, and engineer" terminology verbage for commercial
    purposes is illegal
    in 49 of our 50 US states.
    workers *hate* buzzwords.
    I do not find TQM to be passe' in practice. Instead I find many companies who
    are following or trying to follow the principles of TQM.
    I am also curious to know if Mr. Gantt has a source to verify his statement
    about the use of the terms "engineer, engineering, and re-engineering". It
    seems to me quite common for consulting organizations to use these terms
    especially when combined with business processing as in Business Processing
    Re-engineering.
    As for workers hating buzzwords, I think people dislike terms they don't
    understand. Part of the implementation of any initiative needs to include
    getting everyone accustomed to new terminology and, at least in the US, making
    sure initiative participants understand "why" the initiative is being
    undertaken.

    Mr. Fong, good luck with your research. I hope you will keep us updated with
    your progress.

    - Dave
    ---------------------------------
    * David B. Harris, President
    * Harris Training and Consulting Services, Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA
    * Email: mailto://htcs@msn.com Internet: http://www.htcs.com/
    Training leader and consultant in training design and implementation with a
    specialization in instructional technology, distance education, and emerging
    technologies.


  • 4.  Evaluating several management tools / techniques

    Posted 07-26-1997 18:16
    Dave Harris <htcs@MSN.COM> asked:

    >>... I am also curious to know if
    Mr. Gantt has a source to verify
    his statement about the use of the
    terms "engineer, engineering, and
    re-engineering"...<<

    To offer to provide "engineering" services to the public the person
    must be a Registered Professional Engineer, i.e., a PE.
    That's my guess.

    >>.. As for workers hating buzzwords, I think
    people dislike terms they don't understand...<<

    Another reason for employees' resistance to buzzwords is that
    managers use buzzwords as an excuse to not manage well.

    Bob

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    | GATELY CONSULTING (508) 473-0955 |
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  • 5.  Evaluating several management tools / techniques

    Posted 07-29-1997 11:44
    To shed some light on the use of the term "engineer" in various contexts,
    state laws regarding the practice of engineering generally provide that it
    is illegal to offer to practice engineering without being a registered
    professional engineer. This refers to working for clients, etc., and in
    rooted in the need to provide sound design of structures of various kinds.
    There are various exemptions, notably those of a manufacturer and of
    employees thereof.

    Also not included are various occupations that include the word engineer,
    such as operating engineer (drivers of construction equipment), stationary
    engineer (operators of building boilers etc), locomotive engineer.

    I suspect we're on safe legal grounds in talking about reengineering
    organization design, etc. Although I'm not a lawyer, I would guess the
    closest we might come to any question is in how we word calling cards,
    consulting sales brochures, etc.

    Tim Edlund, Morgan State University
    [also P.E., (Registered Professional Engineer) New York, Inactive]