68th book of 2020: We all work on the phoenix Project
Using fiction as a means to teach the audience can be dicey, and while part of me wishes there was a non-fiction version of the book, the narrative structure means that it will be hard to forget the simple lessons that the author was trying to imbue. * Brent - The hero who has trouble setting boundaries and inevitably makes themselves the bottleneck for the entire team. I have one on my staff for my real estate company. * Chris - The middle manager who prioritize their own organization goals above top business objectives. I work with these folks every day, and am also at risk of becoming a Chris with my work on metrics in the day job. * Sarah - The nemesis executive that prioritizes personal gain over company objectives, and is able to use personal relationships to subvert standard attempts at process. The plot has all the subtlety of an Ayn Rand novel, but by giving characters arcs that are not impossible, it provides an easy starting point for the key concepts: * Minimize Work in Process - The more work in process the slower everything goes. * Constraint Theory - The system can only move as fast as its weakest link. * Align Services with Business Objectives - Otherwise certain functions will add negative business value. I’ve found myself using the lessons almost immediately, putting Phoenix Project in the company of ‘The Lean Startup’ and ‘High Output Management’.