Ken: Haris, nice to see you today. I hope your weekend went well. It’s Monday and I think it’s time to discuss lubrication.
Haris: Absolutely, Monday, lubrication and coffee, excellent combination, I agree.
Ken: Ok, so we have diagnosis complete, don’t we?
Haris: There is one last thing to do, still.
Ken: I know what you are thinking … taking a walk 😊
Haris: Exactly! Everyone needs to take a walk and see where Lubrication actually happens. That is where priceless information is, actually.
But there is a proper way to do it, of course. First, word “NORMAL” should never be used, under any circumstances. What gets declared as normal… stays that way, so there will be no change. Looking and saying “NORMAL” is not really useful, except when looking for excuses. Second, showing respect to people, it’s also very important. It is not about finger pointing, not about scapegoating, not about making enemies and being bossy. Whatever is out there, target is to understand what needs to be changed, not to shout at people and make drama. By the wat, you never know who is really to blame; individual that does not respect rules, rules if they do not exist, or wrong rules. In my experience, it is more often a system to blame, not individual.
Ken: I agree. As we cannot take a walk right now, do you have something to show here?
Haris: Of course, we have something really interesting to show. I want to show you a collection, I’m sure you have seen the same one. See how the horror looks like, that’s the reality of the field… very often. So, you can see how these bearings get destroyed, this is the practice, this is what is actually done. This is what we often see when we take this walk. From these pictures you can clearly see why it’s not very intelligent to say: This is NORMAL!
It’s not NORMAL and if we say that it is normal, it will never change, it will stay that way.
Ken: Those are all very bad …. and sad!
Haris: Yes, very bad and very sad, I agree. But still, it is better to see the problem than thinking one does not exist. Also, the shock works quite well on the system.
Ken: Ok, we both know what the problem is here, and it is not about technology, it is culture.
Haris: Yes, this is pure culture problem, absolutely, you are right. And to be clear, culture is probably the biggest problem organizations face. Precisely, it is most difficult to resolve, at least by using engineering tools, because it is not an engineering problem.
Ken: Too many times we see expectation from technology to resolve all problems
Haris: Sure, too much Harry Potter, expecting that there is a magic wand. Technology is excellent to teach us What needs to be done and How, and for those close to it also Why. But widespread understanding about Why something needs to be done, and why that way,… that comes from Culture. Culture consists of four elements: Values, Beliefs, Behaviours and Rituals. Rituals are procedures, and they are naturally outcome of first three elements. Procedures/rituals do not build Values, Beliefs or Behaviour. It is the other way around.
Ken: So, it is top down for that kind of task
Haris: Yes, it is top down when it needs to be built. But, unfortunately, when it comes to destroying it, it is both top down and bottom up. If there is no understanding, it only generates pushback.
Ken: I have seen that so many times before when it collapses after certain period
Haris: Agree. Also, I view it from different angle; does culture needs to be built or we just need to let it back in?
Ken: Let it in?
Haris: Yes, let it back in 😊,
Ken: Sounds intriguing, let us get another coffee!
Haris: I agree, this deserves another coffee!
Ken: Until next week!
