Pick a Thing, Any Thing

Getting Started with Improvement Science

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to improvement is knowing where to start. I have been with groups that desperately wanted to embark on improvement science journeys but became paralyzed in the debate over which area they should focus their improvement efforts on.

Here’s what I have learned after 25 years of doing this work: the question of which area to work on is actually a very advanced mode of improvement science. When you are just beginning, it is important to pick something that is relatively inconsequential.

Consider the age-old rule about learning: You can learn new content or a new process, but not both. Improvement science is a complex process, and if you are just learning it, start with simple and easy content. Once you have the principles and routines down, then you can begin to pick more complex concepts to improve.

If you’re trying to get started, it is best to pick a thing, any thing. Something that can be influenced by action. Definitely not the most persistent, intractable problem your organization has faced. Maybe it’s reducing the number of trips to the supply closet, or fewer announcements over the PA system. Anything.

Once you have that selected, you can begin to work the improvement science process and develop your theory of action: the action you will take to try and effect the results you desire. Working this process several times, analyzing your results, playing with different theories of action, developing different pathways when proposed actions don’t work out as intended, will make you skilled in the ways of improvement science.

Once you have developed the skills, then you can move on and start trying to tackle areas that are a bit more complex and nuanced. Areas in which the theory of action might not be so obvious, or the reasons for poor performance might be complex and multifaceted.

The important thing is not choosing the right area to focus your efforts. The important thing is to choose a thing, any thing, and get started down the improvement science path.

The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. — Nolan Bushnell