Mike Orzen & Associates, Inc.

Effective Structured Problem Solving through Self-Awareness

Seeing the Real Gap PDCA, the unassuming four-step cycle of plan-do-check-adjust, is the secret sauce of learning and improvement. This scientific method of structured problem-solving brought us the industrial revolution, chemistry, modern medicine, physics, computers, space travel, the internet and the world as it exists today. It seems quite natural…

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The Mythical Value Stream Manager

For decades, the lean community has been talking about the importance of creating and managing customer value across the value stream. A value stream is comprised of all the activities performed to create, manage and deliver value to customers. It includes all the wasteful and broken processes we have come…

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Leading With Respect: The Right to Be Successful

I recently had the pleasure of presenting a webinar on a topic I am passionate about: Leading with Respect. The event drew over 350 attendees, the majority of whom stayed tuned in for the entire time and were highly engaged in the chat. The fact that so many people attended…

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What Covid Taught Me – Discipline is My Best Friend

I once had a very wise coach who said, “Discipline is your best friend.” Years later I have come to realize how true that statement is. The global pandemic has provided time for all of us to reflect on what is working and needs to change for us to align…

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Reclaiming Good Coaching Practices – 5 Core Practices and Supporting Exercises

It is estimated that the business coaching industry has reached $11.2 billion[1] and will continue to grow at an annual rate of 6.7 percent. This explosion of demand for good coaches is due to our universal need to learn, grow, and improve. People want to accelerate their progress in areas of life that…

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