Article PDF: 5.1.2 Unproductive Responsibility [1]

Seven rules for avoiding the mistakes made through lack of a focus on mission.

Playbook Articles are available only to members, but you can purchase article downloads.

This article warns how our existing responsibilities can act as a serious barrier to progress. Unfortunately, in the world of production, we tend to see our responsibilities in terms of a list of specific activities rather than a set of general goals. That list of opportunities can grow until it leaves room for little else. These activities may have value in the larger scheme of things, but they may not. We commit to doing many tasks that have minimal value and tasks that were valuable can cease to have value. Sun Tzu's rules in this area are designed to keep unproductive commitments to a minimum.,