Yeah, I think that's true. And the biggest takeaway is that there are *people* doing those jobs, not just functionaries. Like with the Waste Management one, where the CEO realized that the "oversight" he gave the supervisors over the garbage truck drivers was coming off more like stalking, with bonus fear of firing. It seemed like a good policy from behind his desk because it meant there was some sort of metrics, some accountability, but he hadn't ever thought about how it would feel to a person. But once he'd realized it, that would have to make a real directorial shift. I would like to see more empowerment tools, like workers getting a channel to suggest improvements up the chain.
The picking stuff was interesting to me and I wish they'd gone into more detail there. When we set up our new distribution center, I set up all the warehousing locs. We shifted from a product line based order to a completely random one because of some studies done that said that it increased accuracy without decreasing speed of picking. So, like, a product named NVJ-114B wasn't on the shelf next to a product named NVJ-114P, making it prone to pick errors.
But I always wondered if that failed to take into account how excellent long-term employees memorized locations and always knew exactly where to go to pick their order. Obviously for them it was easier (and thus faster) if they could go to the NVJ aisle and work it out from there. We tried to improve stuff like, how intuitively the racks were named and labeled, but I was never able to get a clear enough answer from the pickers, mostly because they knew I was responsible for the change.
The LA Times had an article in this morning's Calendar section about what happens to those "normal" people featured on UB after the show: The rewards of hanging with the "Undercover Boss"
It was interesting to see how all of these folks were pre-vetted to make sure they got some good stories for the masses. It also did my cynical little heart good to see that the bosses did wind up following through - at least on the individual aspects - on their show induced Aha! moments. (Apologies to Oprah for using her trademarked phrase. Eyes rolling until they fall out of my head) That Ukranian dude didn't just get a luxury vacation for some alone time with the wife. He is getting his own 7-11 franchise. What a country, indeed.
If I could, I would watch the first half of UB and then change before the CEO reveals himself. It is interesting seeing the bosses dealing with the "real work" but the selective rewards and minimal comeuppance bug. It is wonderful to donate money to a kids football league or contribute to someone's wedding, but these folks are just a small fraction of the people working their asses off for the company.
I really like a lot of UB, but the fact that a few people get these cool gifts doesn't sit well with me. I'd so much prefer to see policy changes or something. Because the way it is now, people who get lucky, even if they are vetted, are basically getting a gift for being on TV. I like when they end up in mgmt training or something similar but 10K for a wedding? I didn't like that, even though I liked the guy.
AI: One question. Who let Miley forget her pants?
Maybe she is just a liar?
Drag Race -- It seems a little unfair to send Jessica home on the challenge about language. Not that her LSFYL was good.
Drag Race -- It seems a little unfair to send Jessica home on the challenge about language. Not that her LSFYL was good.
Oh no! I can't believe I spoiled myself for that. I love Jessica!
Drag Race -- It seems a little unfair to send Jessica home on the challenge about language. Not that her LSFYL was good.
No, the LSFYL wasn't good, but on the whole, I don't disagree with her being in the bottom. She was kind of blowing it all the way through. The language, sure, but there was also the lack of creativity with the cover concept, the dress at the end which, ick, and the fact that she seemed TOASTED during the interview. I don't think that was her intention, but she looked really, really drunk.
But gain, it comes back to the LSFYL, and I've only been watching the show for a few weeks, but I'm pretty sure Ru starts them at a clean slate there. (Thus, JuJu surviving last week.) And that one was all SORTS of wrong.
