AIM, äm, n - Aim is to system as direction is to journey?
A system is a collection of components which come together repeatedly in support of the system aim .
Every system has an aim.
The aim is the constancy of purpose.
Without a shared aim the elements of the organization have no guidepost with which to navigate.
The aim encompasses the customer and stakeholders quality indicators .
The aim will be the guiding light for a long long time.
The aim of each sub-system shall be aligned with the overall system aim.
General rules for AIMS.
The aim should be a direction not a goal.
The aim can not be two purposes or two aims. One aim per system, decide what is most important. If less important directions still seem very important consider them as side shows or side trips or detours. They may be on the program but they are not the guiding light, make them some other part of the philosophy.
The shorter the better. Consider the FedEx aim:
The world on time!
Will everyone remember it?
You will need to measure progress toward the aim. Don't pick something for which it is impossible to measure progress. Easy to measure is best. Difficult is OK. Measuring a surrogate is OK. Can't be measured is NO GOOD.
If you are a stakeholder in someone's process and their aim doesn't work for you tell them. How else could they know. Better yet, send them your main quality indicator. This will save them the task of asking you.
November is Aim Month
By Bill Walker
______ happens, aims take a little work . Aim to please, all your stakeholders.. What came first, your aim or your system? Hear yea, hear yea, every system and sub-system, every department and team, shall contemplate their very existence, search every sole and declare unto all thy purpose and aim. Long live the aim and purpose, all else may change. Thy aim shall be aligned with the corporate aim and in support of the company philosophy. Must first draft aims be perfect? Don't be ridiculous. Fine aims like fine wine take a little time. A system without an aim is like a rebel without a cause, a job without a plan, a life in the wilderness without a compass. It's hard to change those above, but what's stopping you from being a leader of those around you. Need more information? c was the ambassador for aims. Check out any book by Deming or do a search for Deming and aim on the internet..
AIM ACORN TEST
Does the aim satisfy each of the following:
A - Accomplishment
Is the aim a result and not a action? Could a independent
group verify progress toward accomplishment?
C - Control - Concise - Compelling
Does the group have control over the actions needed
to accomplish the aim or is it dependent on actions of others?
Is it concise?
Is it compelling.
0 - Only Objective
If this and only this objective were accomplished,
would it be enough?
If not you may have identified a subgoal and not the true
aim? (Subgoals are important but they do not have to pass the 0 part of the
test.)
R - Reconciliation
Does the aim create a barrier in the organization that
may prevent another group from accomplishing its aim?
Does another group have the same aim?
Two groups should not be addressing the same aim or conflicting
aims. (Subgoals do not have to pass the R part of the test.)
If the aim has two or more accomplishments can it conflict
with itself?
N - Numbers
Can the progress toward the aim be measured?
It must be possible to measure progress practically and
reasonably.
Measurement to determine progress toward an aim is essential.