Anyone who works in the public sector will relate: Management Strategy Bullshit
Expensive, off-the-shelf management training/strategy/consultancy bullshit that anyone with half a brain could dissect and dismiss, but has somehow converted many of the highest earners in the country to total zealots. Things like:

Lean
Six Sigma
Success! in the workplace
Six Steps

Also, associated pseudo-science / defunct science bullshit that goes hand in hand with the above, including Myers-Briggs personality tests and Mumford & Honey learning styles.

Show me the fucking evidence you doofuses. This shit costs the taxpayer millions, and is the starkest and bleakest evidence of the decline in education standards in this country. David Hume would spin in his fucking grave.

//rant over
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 13:50, 8 replies)

Oh yeah!
And in primary schools, fecking Brain Gym. I'd like to spend half an hour with the tosser who made that bullshit up - just me, him and a rounders bat from the sports cupboard.

www.badscience.net/category/brain-gym/

Read it and bloody weep.
(WaveyDavey, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:07, closed)

I am familiar work the works of Mr. Goldacre
Brain Gym is still in some (mostly private) schools, you know.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:25, closed)

Since the first two originated in the manufacturing industry,
and are actual principles and operating standards for said industry, I'm really not sure how they could be applied in management strategy.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:09, closed)

Try telling that to the managers in the NHS
I can see how Lean might actually work in manufacturing - it actually originates with Toyota. Although I can't help but think that Toyota one day said "hey - couldn't we make more money if we got into this management consultancy lark?" and rattled off some semi-common sense piffle.
(leviticus no longer likes the cut of your gib on, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:24, closed)

Lean at my workplace (a cosmetics/toiletries factory) is a very well-defined principle, and basically goes like this:
* Identify slow or inefficient process.
* Have a look at what you're actually doing to get the process done.
* Is there unnecessary movement, waiting, overproduction, wastage etc.?
* If so, what countermeasures could reasonably be used to avoid said movement, waiting etc.?
* Change process, implement countermeasures, re-evaluate, repeat as necessary.

Over the last few years they reckon it's saved the company hundreds of thousands of pounds in wasted time alone.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 16:33, closed)

^This^
I am now a process engineer (need to update my page, mind).

I get paid for understanding Lean & Six Sigma. They're not a Bible but they are useful tools.
( ousgg is not seeking approval, Fri 24 Feb 2012, 17:00, closed)

What she said^
LEAN and six-sigma came out of manufacturing but they have principles which can be applied to all sorts of things. I've actually advised an NHS manager on how they can apply some of the stuff looking at finding the optimum time to allow for a first GP appointment to reduce the need for second appointments.

Don't worry, I'm not a consultant! I just find this stuff very useful for my job and was having a chat with someone else who was interested in the subject but couldn't quite see how to apply it.
( Afinkawan Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 15:58, closed)

Oh, the private sector is way ahead
They're working under cutting edge management strategy bullshit which hasn't yet been found out. They public sector is way behind, because they're working under outdated management strategy bullshit that has.

The end result, of course, is that most managers - private or public -still let other people do their thinking for them, and hardly any of them think just talking to their staff is a good idea.
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Fri 24 Feb 2012, 12:34, closed)