Glossary
GTD
Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen and published in a book of the same name. GTD is described as a time management system. Allen states "there is an inverse relationship between things on your mind and those things getting done".
The GTD method rests on the idea of moving all items of interest, relevant information, issues, tasks and projects out of one's mind by recording them externally and then breaking them into actionable work items with known time limits. This allows one's attention to focus on taking action on each task listed in an external record, instead of recalling them intuitively.
First published in 2001, a revised edition of the book was released in 2015 to reflect the changes in information technology during the preceding decade.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done
Kaizen
Kaizen, [kaizen] - a Japanese philosophy or practice that focuses on continuous improvement of manufacturing processes, development, supporting business processes and management, as well as all aspects of life.
Kaizen as a planning methodology is a systematic approach to continuous improvement.
Core Principles:
- Incremental Progress: Making small, manageable improvements consistently rather than attempting large, dramatic changes
- Continuous Evaluation: Regular assessment of processes and outcomes
- Full Participation: Involving everyone in the improvement process, from leadership to front-line workers
The Planning Process:
- PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
- Plan: Identify opportunities for improvement and create action plans
- Do: Implement changes on a small scale
- Check: Measure and analyze results
- Act: Standardize successful changes and begin the cycle again
- The 5S Framework
- Sort (Seiri): Eliminate unnecessary items
- Set in Order (Seiton): Organize remaining items
- Shine (Seiso): Clean and inspect work area
- Standardize (Seiketsu): Create consistent procedures
- Sustain (Shitsuke): Maintain the improvements
Implementation Methods:
- Break down large goals into smaller, achievable tasks
- Document current processes and identify waste
- Establish measurable metrics for improvements
- Create standard procedures for common tasks
- Hold regular review meetings to discuss progress
- Encourage suggestions from all team members
- Focus on preventing problems rather than fixing them
Key Features:
- Zero tolerance for waste (Muda)
- Emphasis on quality at every step
- Data-driven decision making
- Visual management tools
- Root cause analysis (5 Whys technique)
- Just-in-time improvements
- Cross-functional collaboration
Benefits:
- Reduced waste and inefficiency
- Improved quality and consistency
- Enhanced employee engagement
- Better resource utilization
- Sustainable long-term improvements
- Increased productivity
- Better problem-solving capabilities
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen
Pomodoro
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Here's a concise explanation:
The core technique consists of:
- Choose a task to work on
- Set a timer for 25 minutes (called a "pomodoro")
- Work on the task with full focus until the timer rings
- Take a short 5-minute break
- After four pomodoros, take a longer 15-30 minute break
Key principles:
- Break complex work into focused intervals
- Avoid all distractions during the 25-minute work period
- Track completed pomodoros to understand your productivity patterns
- Use breaks to rest, reflect, and reset your mind
- If a distraction occurs, either record it for later or call the pomodoro void
The technique gets its name from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a student (pomodoro means "tomato" in Italian).
Benefits include:
- Improved focus and concentration
- Reduced mental fatigue
- Better work/break balance
- Clear sense of progress
- Decreased multitasking and interruptions