Metrics_ How to Improve Key Business Results - Martin Klubeck [6]
This book presents many concepts that may be new, but I don’t see the need to add a new set of words to crowd the already full glossary of organizational development. Instead, I intend to use very common words, plain English as it were, to help make what seems complex into something very simple and straightforward.
Let’s start with a story to help get us in the proper frame of mind.
The Three Little Pigs Go Large
There I was, trying to remember a fairy tale so I could get my three-year-old to sleep. She demanded a story, but being on the road without any of her books meant I had to remember one. Well, I have a terrible memory for stories—but an unfailing memory for lessons I’ve taught. So, like any good father, I improvised. What better way to get her to fall asleep than to tell a story about metrics?
The Story
After effectively dealing with their landlord (Mr. Wolf), the three little pigs settled into a life of luxury and over-indulgence. Three years passed, finding the pigs each living in squalor, dangerously overweight (even for a pig), and in failing health. Each visited his respective doctor. Each doctor came to the same prognosis: this pig was on the fast track to an early barbecue. The pigs did not eat well, sleep enough, exercise, nor did they pay attention to the signs their bodies were giving them. The doctors knew the pigs must change their lifestyles or they would die.
The First Little Pig
Unfortunately for the pigs, the doctors were also very much different. The first little pig’s doctor told him that his health was failing and that he would have to change his lifestyle. The little pig needed to get serious about his health. The doctor sent the little pig away with a diet plan, an exercise plan, and an appointment to return in 12 months.
The first little pig was dutifully scared by his doctor’s warnings, so he worked hard to change. He stopped eating unhealthy foods. He exercised daily. He even started going to sleep early. After one month, the first little pig felt great. He hadn’t felt this good in years! He decided to celebrate. He went out with the lamb twins and partied all night. He had a feast that was followed by an ice cream eating contest (which he won). At about 3 AM he made it home and fell asleep, content on his bed. The next day he forgot to exercise. It was easy to get out of the habit. Eventually, he only exercised on weekends, reasoning that he was too busy during the week. By the end of the next month he was eating poorly again—not as badly as before—but not as good as he should have.
At the end of the year, when the first little pig returned to the doctor, he was shocked to hear that the doctor was disappointed.
“But Doc, I did what you said,” the first little pig pleaded. “I exercise and I eat better. I even go to sleep earlier. I know I’m healthier. .. I feel better than I did last year.”
“Yes, but your weight did not improve enough. You may be eating better, but not well enough. You may be sleeping more, but still not enough. Your health is deteriorating overall … and I fear that you are going to die if you don’t change your ways.”
The doctor gave the first little pig a new diet and exercise program. He even signed the first little pig up for a spinning class and prescribed medication. The doctor gave the little pig another appointment for the following year and wished him well. The first little pig was dutifully frightened by all of this and swore by his chinny chin chin (which was pretty large) that he’d do better.
This time the first little pig stayed on course. He exercised regularly and ate only healthy foods. When he was hungry he ate carrots, or celery, or non-fat yogurt. He attended the spinning classes every week, like clockwork. Unfortunately, with no way to measure his progress, the first little pig didn’t know how well he was