Personal Project of R.N

As the author of this personal project, I give Dr. Farrokh

Alemi permission to publish this power point presentation

on the George Mason Process Improvement course website.

Problem: Frequently arrives 5-10 minutes late to work, 3-4 times a week.Late arrivals are distracting to co-workers and

supervisor when walking in late for an early morning meeting.

Students who arrive early receive delayed services and are possibly late for early morning classes or work.

Supervisor receives delayed resolution to assignments of urgent nature.

Advisors with urgent questions receive a delayed response.

Goal: Arrive to work by 8:30am, Monday through Friday.

Problem Cycle…Exercise

Pack book bag

Leave for work by 8:05

Get dressed

Shower

Dogs do their

“business”

Yes

Iron clothing

Pack lunches

Yes,

No

NoYes

Leave for work after 8:05

No

Wake Up

Arrive 5-10 minutes late

Arrive on time at 8:30am

Clothes wrinkled?

Lunches prepared?

Take dogs outside?

•Resolve to set the alarm and wake up 15 minutes earlier

•I would simply hit the snooze button repeatedly until finally rising at my normal time

•Try to get ready faster in the morning

•Quickly became stressful darting around in the morning, trying to accomplish the same routine, five or ten minutes quicker

•Look for a better route to work, decreasing stop lights and traffic congestion

•I already have the best driving route to work

•Eliminate exercising in the morning before work

•Skipping AM workouts left me feeling fatigued when starting my day

a. Keep a clock in the bathroomb. Share dog responsibilities with husband by agreeing that he will care

for them in the mornings while I care for them in the eveningsc. If lunches cannot be prepared the night before, either buy at work or

pack a frozen t.v. dinner d. Get up earlier than 5:45ame. Arrange to arrive to work at 9am instead of 8:30amf. Take in a week’s worth of lunches on Monday morning, minus

sandwiches g. Exercise in the evenings h. Join a carpooli. Chop vegetables and clean fruit for lunches on Sunday nightsj. Avoid turning on the TV in the morning to decrease distractionsk. Iron clothes on Sunday nights l. Arrange with supervisor to work past 5pm on days I arrive late to

work

Possible Environment Changes…

Data

16- Sep N17- Sep N18- Sep N19- Sep N20- Sep N23- Sep N24- Sep Y25- Sep Y26- Sep N27- Sep N30- Sep N1- Oct N2- Oct Y3- Oct N4- Oct N7- Oct Y8- Oct Y9- Oct Y

10- Oct N11- Oct N

14- Oct Y15- Oct N16- Oct Y17- Oct N18- Oct Y21- Oct Y22- Oct Y23- Oct Y24- Oct N25- Oct Y28- Oct Y19- Oct Y30- Oct Y31- Oct Y1- Nov Y4- Nov Y5- Nov Y6- Nov Y7- Nov N8- Nov Y

11- Nov Y12- Nov Y13- Nov Y14- Nov Y15- Nov Y18- Nov N19- Nov Y20- Nov Y25- Nov Y26- Nov Y27- Nov Y28- Nov Y29- Nov Y2- Dec Y3- Dec Y

Date On Time? Date On Time? Date On Time?

Change demonstrates improvement through control charts

Evaluating Possible Changes Proposed Change Yes or No?

EVALUATING FOR SYSTEMATIC CHANGES A B C D E F G H I J K L

Focuses on events that happen prior to departing for work. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Does not primiarly rely on personal motivation/commitment. Y Y Y Y Y

If it fails to work, it is no one's fault. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

The activity is initiated by others and not me. Y

It does not rely on a person's memory. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Indirectly affects arrival time to work. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

It is a change in a recurring life routine. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Requires more than one person to bring about. Y Y Y Y

If done today, it will affect work arrival time in future, not today. Y Y Y Y Y

Leads to timely arrivals as part of another task. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Affects others who live with me. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Forces one to leave for work on time. Y Y

If it fails to work, gives me insight on what to do next. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Rearranges the sequence of daily living activities. Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Total 5 8 7 4 6 8 7 6 7 5 7 3

Implement the most successful systematic changes:

1. Agreement that husband cares for dogs in the mornings and I care for them in the evenings

2. Take a week’s worth of lunches to work on Monday mornings, minus perishable sandwiches

Other highly scored changes related:

1. Prepare fresh fruit/vegetables for lunches on Sunday evenings

2. Buy lunch at work or pack frozen dinner when unable to prepare the night before

3. Iron clothing on Sunday evenings

What Is Next?

Avoid hasty preparations in the mornings before work and shift dog responsibilities

Continue exercise routines in the a.m.; implement changes elsewhere

Commit to Sunday evening routine to ensure consistent timely arrivals to work each day throughout the week

•Withhold judgment and observe, observe, observe

•Change that does not rely on personal motivation is most successful

•Persevere! Consistency!