Thursday, 6 May 2010

Why checklists aren't all bad!

Just a short entry today...

Let me start with a bold statement; I hate checklists - people begin to rely on them and then stop thinking outside the lists....

However, at latest since Atul Gawande's "Checklist Manifesto" the checklist is back in.

I have been reminded over the last weeks of how useful a few simple checks are when you are in a hurry. More than this, checklists can be used to enforce standard behaviours - perhaps not the most up-to-date and empowered management thinking, but effective.

The key is to keep them lightweight, keep them simple and keep questioning them - they are the armbands for swimming and do not replace kicking your feet!

A useful link to finish: a checklist for checklists.

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