Are you seeing the big picture in selecting your improvement projects?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the adaptation of Michael Porter's Value Chain as part of a total value and performance-based framework to help identify and prioritize process improvement projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper developed a framework and then applied it by using a notional company's performance numbers.

Findings

The proposed framework can be easily applied to a real-world business setting by using the methodology proposed. The author used basic Microsoft Excel skills to perform this work.

Practical implications

This paper's’ strength is that it provides business managers and quality improvement practitioners a viable and straight forward method to identify and prioritize their improvement efforts.

Originality/value

This paper is original in its concept. It takes and established framework and it applies it to a process improvement application.

Citation

Richard Horne, J. (2014), "Are you seeing the big picture in selecting your improvement projects?", The TQM Journal, Vol. 26 No. 6, pp. 658-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-08-2013-0094