News
Healthcare’s Supply Chain is Different, and Therein Lies the Motivation for Change
Have you ever tried to teach the nuances of the healthcare supply chain to someone steeped in the practices of another industry’s supply chain? I have, and I can tell you it is frustrating. I lecture every semester at Michigan … Continue reading
The Age-old Promise and Conflict of People-Process-Technology
Since the dawn of time, when people discovered how to make tools and use fire (technology), things have never been the same. As a species, how we fed, clothed, sheltered and took care of ourselves (process) changed dramatically. Some would … Continue reading
The Road Goes On…
Robert Earl Keen is a singer-songwriter with a large cult following among “roots music” or “outlaw music” sorts such as myself. His most famous song is one about a short, ill-fated and violent relationship between a man and a woman … Continue reading
Another Study Obfuscates GPOs’ True Supply Chain Impact
Mark Twain once wrote, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” I’d like to share a few observations as I “paused and reflected” after reading, and re-reading, the very well … Continue reading
State of the Union — Supply Chain 2015
Last week I watched the State of the Union speech by the president. As established by Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution: “He (the President) shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the … Continue reading
The Top 10 Things I Hope Not to Hear Again in 2015
No. 10 – From vendors: “This [fill in the blank] will reduce your length of stay by…” If all of the products and services that were supposed to reduce our length of stay actually did, we would have a negative … Continue reading
OK, Just One More ‘R’ – Reflection
Throughout 2014, this newsletter has been organized around seven leadership principles … The Seven Rs. As the year draws to a close, I am adding an eighth, Reflection. I tease my kids all the time about their being “my favorite … Continue reading
Self-reflection: A Gift Everyone Should Give Themselves
As we begin the countdown to 2015, I would like to encourage all readers to give themselves the gift of time to reflect, refresh and reveal. Celebrating personal achievements, acknowledging challenges undertaken and recognizing our inner strengths serves us well … Continue reading
Summing up the Year, in Seven Rs or Fewer
If you have been reading our newsletter regularly over the past year, you have become familiar with what we have come to call “The Seven Rs of the Successful Organization.” In case you have forgotten, they are: Relevance Relationships Rigor … Continue reading
Respect for Staff and Community is Key to Institutional Reputation
Respect. The word evokes meanings that tend to be very personal. Both Fred and our guest author, Bill McFaul, offer their perspectives. I’m going to take a slightly different perspective. What about respect for the institution? I am seeing a … Continue reading
