Good and Great

In the previous two postings the discussion revolved around the tools that I believe should be explored thoroughly for immediate introduction into project workflow.  Then I closed with a couple remarks about competing in an ever changing world.  It is that topic that I would like to explore a little more in this post.

If you have never read the book "Good to Great", by Jim Collins, I highly suggest that you do so.  The insights that it offer are excellent in their clarity and precise in their explanations.  Although this book is about what it takes to make a good company into a great company, I found myself examining more than the company that I work for in light of the book.

I started looking at my department and my coworkers.  More importantly, I began examining my own attitudes towards each of these.  The result was surprising to me, but ultimately encouraging.

Don't misunderstand.  This is not going to be a book review, but rather an exploration into the application of great principles to our daily tasks.

I am going to take a few postings to examine the role that attitude plays in determining an ability to compete and truly become great at whatever we do; but with a focus on CAD and design.

Good is the Enemy of Great

Mr. Collins makes one of his most valuable points on the very first page of his book.  The idea that good is the enemy of great is just this.  We don't have great institutions simply because it is so easy to have an adequate and sufficient organization.  The trap of mediocrity and marginal performance is so easy to become intrenched in.

Consider this for a moment if you will.  The reason that we do not have great schools is because we have so many simply good schools.  How would the school system be different if the focus was to turn out 4.0 straight A students as possible.  Contrast this idea to the current standard of education meeting a minimum standard for graduation.  This would take a nearly radical commitment to the pursuit of of excellence in academics, and that is precisely the point.

Discipline and rigor in the pursuit of excellence is the mark to which many never aspire.

I can easily think of ways that I have settled for mediocrity in my work to hit a deadline or finish my day a little early.  There is nothing wrong with seeking to trim a few minutes or hours off of a process.  It is the sacrifice of excellence that is the problem. 

The lowering of standards in the pursuit of the simply average, that is the offence.

Mr. Collins and his crew of researchers boiled down stacks of data and interviews into a few simple principles.

Disciplined People - Leadership; First Who Then What

Disciplined Thought - ConFront the Brutal Facts, Hedgehog Concept

Disciplined Action - Culture of Discipline, Technology Accelerators

So join me in reflection over the next few posts, and take a look at principles  of greatness applied to the world of CAD and design.