Every organization has dashboards. Almost none of them know whether the numbers they're reacting to mean anything.
A metric drops 4% and someone calls a meeting. It rises 6% and someone takes credit. Neither response is based on evidence -- both are based on the human instinct to see patterns in noise. This is how organizations spend enormous energy responding to variation that's completely normal, while missing the real signals that something has actually changed.
Measures of Success teaches leaders and improvement professionals to tell the difference. Mark Graban introduces Process Behavior Charts -- a method rooted in the work of W. Edwards Deming and Donald J. Wheeler -- that makes it simple to see whether your data is showing a signal worth acting on or noise worth ignoring. No statistics degree required. Just a fundamentally different way of looking at the numbers you already have.
The result is less firefighting, fewer false alarms, and improvement efforts aimed at changes that actually matter. With real examples from healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond, this book replaces the gut-feel reactions that dominate most management cultures with something better: calm, evidence-based leadership.
"He shows how to separate signal from noise in a way that helps people make better decisions and reduce overreaction. If you're navigating a tough business environment, you need this book." -- Daniel H. Pink
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, published author, professional speaker, and blogger. He builds upon a deep education in engineering and management with practical experience working with executives and frontline employees in multiple industries to synthesize and practice methods including Lean management, continuous improvement, statistical methods, and people-centered leadership approaches.
Working independently since 2010, and in partnership with other consulting groups, Mark enjoys working with organizations that are looking for better ways to improve, with leaders who are willing to lead that charge. He is also a Senior Advisor to the technology and software company KaiNexus.
Education
Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA as a Fellow in the MIT Sloan Leaders for Global Operations Program.
Other Experience
Mark has worked in automotive (General Motors), the PC industry (Dell), and industrial products (Honeywell). At Honeywell, Mark was certified as a "Lean Expert" (equivalent to "Lean Black Belt"). He has also worked for two software and technology startup companies. From 2005 to 2009, Mark was a senior consultant with ValuMetrix Services, then a division of Johnson & Johnson, where he led many successful improvement projects with sustainable results in the United States, Canada, and England. From June 2009 to June 2011, Mark was a Senior Fellow with the Lean Enterprise Institute.
Speaking and Teaching
Mark is a popular speaker at conferences and private company events.
