This book introduces Systematic Improvement Planning (SIP), a structured approach to improvement. It draws upon proven industrial engineering and quality improvement tools, along with some of its own, and enables people to make positive changes. SIP is designed to help meet goals, solve problems, and implement ideas. The book provides a comprehensive and detailed framework for operational improvement at all levels of an enterprise.

The book shows how to use Planning by Design (PxD) for developing working models to any type of subject area. Section 1 describes the nature of planning in general, the formula of planning, the features that make it systematic, the essence of PxD, and developing and using the working model. Section 2 demonstrates personal application of creative planning to real life cases and practical working models on different subject areas. The book provides a general planning "master guide" that shows how to develop a working model of any definable subject matter. This objective will be accomplished by introducing the concepts, the process, and the methodology of PxD.

An effective state is essential to achieving socio-economic and sustainable development. With the advent of globalization, there are growing pressures on governments and organizations around the world to be more responsive to the demands of internal and external stakeholders for good governance, accountability and transparency, greater development effectiveness, and delivery of tangible results. Governments, parliaments, citizens, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, international organizations and donors are among the stakeholders interested in better performance. As demands for greater accountability and real results have increased, there is an attendant need for enhanced results-based monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs, and projects. This Handbook provides a comprehensive ten-step model that will help guide development practitioners through the process of designing and building a results-based monitoring and evaluation system. These steps begin with a OC Readiness AssessmentOCO and take the practitioner through the design, management, and importantly, the sustainability of such systems. The Handbook describes each step in detail, the tasks needed to complete each one, and the tools available to help along the way."

High-performance process improvement takes process improvement to the next ambition level. The kernel of the substance is a generic process improvement process that operates under the strictest time, quality and cost constraints. Thanks to a modular composition and robust methods the scope may range from one single person to networks with hundreds of companies. This is realized via three high-class phases:network and company analysis and synthesis, process analysis and synthesis, the implementation, including process improvement education and training and the practical realization of the improvement potential. The presented methods contain mass customization features and a very advanced logic for optimizing the interaction of people, technology, information and material both in the process improvement process itself and the focus process. The book is based on an extensive R&D effort and thorough practical verifications in more than 75 companies in almost any business and in all sizes.

The 1997 Asian financial crisis hit the region and became a defining moment for Asia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As ADB participated in coordinated crisis responses, Asian policy makers used this opportunity to reassess their economic policies in a fundamental way. This volume presents how ADB met the challenges during the fourth decade of designing strategies to respond to rapid changes in the region following the Asian financial crisis, and responding to the changes in international development thinking. Several important policies and strategies were approved, including ADB's Poverty Reduction Strategy as well as ADB's first Long-Term Strategic Framework to 2015. ADB embarked on two major reorganizations (in 2002 and 2006) and committed to an internal reform agenda to be a more responsive, relevant, and results-oriented organization. ADB also took a proactive role in postconflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Timor-Leste. ADB also needed to respond to a series of external shocks such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in 2003, the Asian tsunami in 2004, and the Pakistan earthquake in 2005.

"The objective of this research was to undertake a comprehensive and systematic examination of the way agencies should be organized to successfully execute operations programs that improve travel time reliability. The following types of questions were examined at the outset of this research: How does operations fit into a transportation agency's overall program? What changes can be made in agency culture and training to promote operations? Which local and regional public agencies and private-sector organizations are essential to the various aspects of operations? Are there emerging technologies, systems, or organizational structures that can be used to advance intra-agency and interagency communications and therefore operations? The research addressed a large number of topics concerning organizational and institutional approaches that could enhance highway operations and travel time reliability. The most fruitful investigation was identification of the Capability Maturity Model, used extensively in the information technology field for organizational self-assessment and continuous improvement of quality and reliability. The researchers recognized that a version of the Capability Maturity Model could be developed and applied to highway operations and in turn travel time reliability. Elements defining different levels of maturity include culture/leadership, organization and staffing, resource allocation, and partnerships."--Publisher's description.