The Basics of Process Improvement

Unlike other books that promote a specific process and performance improvement discipline, this book shows organizations how to achieve success by fixing basic operational issues and problems using a broad and wide-sweeping process-based toolkit. In addition, it helps individuals who have worked in stale- or siloed-thinking enterprises make the transition to a process or improvement-oriented culture and teaches those who are unfamiliar with process tools to look at their work with a new lens and adopt a continuous improvement and analytical-thinking mindset.

The authors have successfully used the various methods, tools, and concepts found in this book to overcome practical, daily problems at various organizations. This book will surely help operators, managers, practitioners, and executives, who are charged with improving processes and workplace culture, produce better products and services.

Tristan Boutros is currently chief operating officer for product, technology and design with The New York Times, where he oversees several functions, including product and program management, process improvement, strategic sourcing and vendor management, and enterprise architecture. An award-winning author, speaker, and organizational innovator, he coauthored The Process Improvement Handbook: A Blueprint for Managing Change and Increasing Organizational Performance (McGraw- Hill Professional, 2014) and has been written about in several case studies with various outlets. He holds more than 12 professional designations, including his Master Black Belt (MBB), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), and Master Project Manager (MPM) certifications. A digital and process transformation expert, he specializes in delivering rapid business value using Lean, Agile, and numerous other techniques and methods.

Jennifer Cardella is vice president, strategic program and vendor management for one of the world's largest media and entertainment firms located in New York City. She is a seasoned business leader with an extensive background in program management, process improvement, and business transformation, with key emphasis on product development, cloud computing, operational excellence, and portfolio governance. Jennifer holds more than 10 professional designations, including her Master Black Belt (MBB), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Master Project Manager (MPM) certifications. A transformation expert, Jennifer specializes in building high-performing teams and directing the delivery of global business and technology solutions using Lean and Agile methods.