Learning from other professions has always been a fast track way of getting ahead of the curve. Studying what others are doing is (usually) way better than trying to learn on the job. As someone once said: “better to learn from the mistakes of others – than from your own”.
This week’s resources delve into healthcare, manufacturing, and accounting. For the people who want to learn from other IT experiences I’ve included the more traditional what are good practices in implementing IT solutions? (resources).
Have another great week.
1. Deming and Goldratt: The Theory of Constraints and the System of Profound Knowledge This is an excellent book. Domenico Lepore is a Deming Scholar and Oded Cohen collaborates with Dr. Goldratt. Combined, the two do a very good straightforward job explaining Deming’s Profound Knowledge and Goldratt’s TOC and how they work together.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0884271633?ie=UTF8&tag=georgespaffor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0884271633
2. Thought leadership
The ICAEW’s thought leadership work has a two-fold purpose. One is about thinking ahead on long-term issues for our profession and its place in the world. The other is about shaping government thinking on regulatory policy ahead of its time. Our thought leadership has real urgency and validity because context is everything. One solution does not fit all and failure to recognize that has been the root cause of many regulatory problems.
http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm?route=106020
3. The Seven Crucial Conversations in HealthcareAll too often, well-intentioned people in healthcare institutions choose not to speak up when they’re concerned with behavior, decisions, or actions of a colleague.
http://www.silencekills.com/Download.aspx
4. 20 Questions Directors Should Ask about IT Projects
Directors of organizations are expected to satisfy themselves as to the effectiveness of the information technology function, including the management of significant investments in new or updated technology through IT projects and initiatives. This briefing provides suggested questions for boards to ask the Chief Information Officers, Project Sponsors and others. For each question there is a brief explanatory background. We hope that directors, CEOs and CIOs will find these useful in assessing their approach to the management of risk and internal control.
http://www.cica.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/39232/la_id/1.htm
5. Auditing System Conversions
Converting from old to new computer systems is an important, but often underestimated, aspect of IT projects. Implementing a new system usually requires a variety of system changes, production data conversion and migration, and new operational policies and procedures. Each of these areas poses significant risk to the organization during the actual system conversion.
Consequently, conversion audit efforts typically focus on reviewing plans and results for:
· The overall implementation of the IT solution.
· The systems that are required to implement the IT solution.
· The operational changes required within the organization as part of the implementation.