RE: Operational Excellence - True or False? (Feel free to explain if so inclined)

Technically (my INTP personality kicking in here) operational excellence is a 
recognized philosophy based on measurements and objectives.

It occurs to me now (when I replied to Niall) that the statement may actually 
be "relative" - sometimes true, sometimes false.  Different for each individual 
and each organization depending on the objectives being strived for.

Thoughts?

-Chris

From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Coll-Barth, Michael
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 2:57 PM
To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Operational Excellence - True or False? (Feel free to explain if 
so inclined)

Chris,


>>> I think you have made the mistake of equating excellence with infallible or 
>>> inerrant (or perhaps both).  Perhaps to you that is what operational 
>>> excellence is.  To be inerrant and/or infallible.



The problem with these terms is that management will run with them.  Then, over 
time, they take on a whole different meaning.  And that word, 'infallible', is 
the word I'm afraid will become synonymous with excellence.

Where I work, management tries very hard to not use buzz words or ambiguous 
terms.  Yes, we have metrics and we always strive to improve them.  It's nice 
to see your app with that number next to its name.  And when it isn't it pushes 
you to make changes to get your app back up there.

I guess it's time for me to socialize this idea in the office.  :)





From: Taylor, Chris David [mailto:ChrisDavid.Taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 3:23 PM
To: Coll-Barth, Michael; 'oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: Operational Excellence - True or False? (Feel free to explain if 
so inclined)

Yikes!  Yes, I think you need to eat :)

I actually made the conscious decision to not define Operational Excellence 
because it is different for each organization.  Operational excellence might be 
recognized by providing 5 9s of availability (99.999) because that is what is 
determined as the measuring stick for a particular organization.  A different 
organization may strive for response time for 90% of queries to complete in 
under 10 ms.  Obviously these are simplistic examples.

I think you have made the mistake of equating excellence with infallible or 
inerrant (or perhaps both).  Perhaps to you that is what operational excellence 
is.  To be inerrant and/or infallible.

I hope that helps.

--Chris

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