PathMaker: Software for effective management projects

How many management projects do you run?
What about one single software for all your management projects?

Management projects such as planning strategy, solving problems, improving processes, driving out waste, balanced scorecard, benchmarking, business process re-engineering, six sigma ...

PathMaker is a unique software that helps you to systematically create a better organisation.

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PathMaker Software for effective management projects

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Lots of management projects - one software

Management projects formally resemble each other. They all use the same steps to achieve their goals. Therefore, why not using a software that has the capabilities to serve all kind of different management projects? Why not using PathMaker?

PathMaker contains a range of tools to successfully manage these steps. Just integrate these steps on a pathway and you will create your own management project as you need it. You may use PathMaker online or offline. PathMaker supports (also virtual) teamwork in management projects.

Working with PathMaker Software for effective management projects: Structure

The PathMaker structure reflects the elements required in a management project. PathMaker shows five working areas that are addressed during any kind of management project. These working areas allow the user to run a complete management process such as the PDCA cycle (Plan - Do - Check - Act):

• Pathway: describes a PathMaker project in form of single project steps. Each project step is represented by a tool which is used to manage the specific task. See more on this below.
• Project information: contains project name and information about the project. Since we are concerned with management projects, we should not forget to document the project information.
• Team members: contains a list of team members taking part in the project. It is the team that plans, performs, checks, and acts. It is the team that makes decisions. And it is the team which interacts between its team members in order to achieve good results.
• Actions: contains a list of project-related actions. Actions that are agreed on in a meeting are automatically included in the actions list. This area is vital as it represents the "Act" of PDCA. Have you ever seen projects or processes that measure and analyse ... and finally forget to take any action? PathMaker is different and clearly focuses on action.
• Discussions: shows discussions held, invites to participate in a current discussion and allows to initiate new discussions. Discussions are the process of progress in a project as different views finally converge into improved objectives. PathMaker strongly supports discussions and helps to improve the quality of discussions.

Steps and Tools used on the project pathway

The project pathway contains the steps you define for your project. PathMaker provides tools that can be used to complete the step. Have a brief look at the steps now and see the Online Tour for more details later.

Tools for creative thinking

Creative thinking is the process of innovation. It introduces new, fresh ideas to meet future challenges. Path Maker's brainstorming and affinity diagramming software tool combines two important creative processes in a split window.

• Brainstorming: The brainstorm tool permits easy recording of creative ideas that answer a central question. This tool's design, based on the classic brainstorming method invented by Alex Osborne, allows the team recorder to keep pace with group thinking.
• Affinity Diagram: Using a "drag and drop" technique, ideas can then be rapidly sorted into affinity sets, or groups, in the affinity diagram.

Tools for analytical thinking

Analytical thinking is the process of refining the understanding of a specific situation or process. It helps to lock into details and open uncovered aspects.

• Cause and Effects Diagram: Path Maker's cause and effect diagram, or Ishikawa diagram tool helps users discover the root causes of problems. The traditional fishbone shape has been superseded by a right-angled structure, which is easier to construct, read and use. Zooming in and out permits viewing either the forest or the trees.
• Flowchart: With Path Maker's full-featured flowchart tool, you can easily create process flow diagrams and relations diagrams. You get the set of ANSI standard symbols recommended by Dr. Juran: rectangle, circle, oval, diamond, and delay. We've added a cloud symbol, which we use to indicate a step where we're not sure what exactly is going on.
  Path Maker's Flowchart tool does not include 5 MB of clip art, 4000 shapes, or templates for home interior design. It does, however, give you an easy learning curve, and a very rapid shape creation, labeling and connecting method. This tool is very well suited to live use in a team setting, and compares favourably to more expensive single-tool packages.
• Tree Diagram: The tree diagram is based on the same principle like the cause and effects diagram.
• Form Designer: PathMaker includes a variety of standard form templates such as:
  • FMEA: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. It helps to realise potential failures, perform preventive action, and save money and increase customer satisfaction.
  • Problem Solving Guide
  • SWOT Analysis: It assist to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
  • Customers and Suppliers
  • Process Boundaries
  • QFD: QFD or Quality Function Deployment is used to translate customer requirements into suitable targets for each step of development and production.
  • ... and many, many more.
  People use these forms as needed as projects move along, and responses to the questions are saved for easy referral and reporting.
  This is only the beginning. If you want to make your own form, switch to design mode, and quickly modify one of the standard forms, or make a new one from scratch. You can save your new form in a list of standard form templates, which makes it available for future use. Your whole organization can have access to the standard forms you design, which enables you to have a consistent approach to problem solving, documentation, ISO 9000 compliance, and more.

Tools for better decisions

Business is about decision making, i.e. you select your favourite by giving up less favourite options. PathMaker makes decision making much easier.

• Force Field-Analysis: The force field diagram helps in decision-making or contingency planning. The force field diagram is built on the idea that forces (habits, customs, attitudes) both drive and restrain change.
• Consensus Builder - Multivoting: Path Maker's consensus builder tool is to help teams discover "shared thought" through multivoting, rating and discussion. Multivoting is used to narrow down a long list of candidates.
• Consensus Builder - Rating: With rating, the process is much the same. This time, however, you can use one or more criteria to rate candidates against.

Tools to analyse, monitor and collect data

Path Maker's Data Analyst tool helps you integrate actual process data with management and planning tools. That's unusual in itself. The Data Analyst also has innovations which mean that non-statisticians can easily make useful, accurate, professional charts. With all the statistics done for you. The Data Analyst includes pre-defined charts as:

• Control Chart
• Pareto Chart
• Run Chart
• Pie Chart
• Bar Chart
• Scatter Chart
• Radar Chart
• Normal and Bubble Chart
• Histogram

The Data Analyst is extremely easy to use. If you choose a Run Chart in the chart wizard, the spreadsheet adjusts itself to offer you column headers which are appropriate for run chart data. Your chart is automatically drawn from the data you enter. Just one button stands between you and all the relevant statistics you need.

Tools to run effective Meetings

You can schedule team meetings right on the Project Pathway by placing meeting brackets and stretching them to include the steps you want to cover. When you do this, an agenda is automatically created, which includes the designated steps and a list of attendees.

Tools for Just-in-Time-Learning

One of the classic problems of quality training has been the lag between training and action. It doesn't work to sheepdip an employee in quality management theory, and then have six months go by before he is involved in a process improvement project. Everyone, and especially adults, are impatient with learning something that they don't see themselves using right away. Plus, the half-life of knowledge is very short, unless it is cemented by being used. PathMaker does not stop at tools. It also teaches, combining learning with doing.

Embedded in the software are 32 slide shows which provide just-in-time training on a wide variety of subjects, covering everything from the basics of quality improvement and teamwork to how to use each tool.

Excerpt of a management project pathway for a balanced scorecard

The balanced scoreboard-project in example on the left contains six stages:

1. Vision
2. Financial objectives
3. Customer objectives
4. Learning objectives
5. Process objectives
6. Monitoring

The figure shows the first two steps with the single steps. Clicking on a tool icon opens this for further editing.

Please visit the Online Tour to learn more about Balanced Scorecard and other applications of PathMaker.

i pathmaker - the webbased edition of PathMaker

i pathmaker is a unique web-based software that helps you to systematically create a better organisation.

i pathmaker Improvement Management Software: Overview

i pathmaker works the same way as PathMaker. The major difference between both is that i pathmaker is a web-based software.

i pathmaker was developed to allow to conveniently work in an interconnected world. It is made for people who need to work outside your firewall, e.g with customers, suppliers, consultants, accountants, attorneys, or colleagues located at different sites. To start your improvement management project you need to:

• gather the right people
• plan
• take actions
• and monitor results.

... i pathmaker gives you the serious business tools, for rapid projects, high-performing teams, clear thinking and secure records.

i pathmaker Improvement Management Software: Organisation

Home Level (Individual User Level)

The Home Page is the highest of 4 levels in i pathmaker. It the individual user level. The user has access to groups, projects, today's events, action items, and recent news.

Group Level

The group level displays any projects belonging to the group. The user can create, edit, and delete projects. There are three types of groups:

• Private: The administrator invites the user to join.
• Visible: The user requests an invitation number to join.
• Public: Anyone can join anytime.

Project Level

Several services are available on the Project level. The user can open the:

• Project Pathway: The project pathway is where it all happens. Tools, links, slideshows and more are added, then opened as needed.
• Project Summary: The project summary contains a referenced description of your project
• Team Member List: The Team Members list provides member information for a given project.
• Action Items List: Action items can be the responsibility of more than one person, however one person holds primarily responsibility. The action item will appear on their Home Page until the task is completed.
• Discussions Log: The discussion logs contains the discussions.
• Calendar: Calendars in i pathmaker are considered services. They can be shared on the group level or just with project team members.
• Link List: The link list contains hyperlinks.
• Shared Files: Files in i pathmaker can be stored on the group or project level.
• Shared News: Late breaking events can be posted right on the home page of group members or project team members.
• Email Service: The user send email from anywhere in i pathmaker.
• Scorecard Service: A scorecard is a quick way of monitoring the processes that you need to know about.

Tool Level

These are the tools available to be added on the project pathway:

• Meeting Agenda: The user can create a meeting agenda.
• StageThe user can provide a header to a group of steps.
• Brainstorm: The brainstorm tool permits easy recording of creative ideas that answer a central question. This tool's design, based on the classic brainstorming method invented by Alex Osborne, allows the team recorder to keep pace with group thinking.
• Force Field: The force field diagram helps in decision-making or contingency planning. The force field diagram is built on the idea that forces (habits, customs, attitudes) both drive and restrain change.
• Notepad
• Data Analyst: This tool helps you integrate actual process data with management and planning tools. That's unusual in itself. The Data Analyst also has innovations which mean that non-statisticians can easily make useful, accurate, professional charts. With all the statistics done for you.
• Consensus Builder: The consensus builder tool is to help teams discover "shared thought" through multivoting, rating and discussion.
• Cause and Effect: The cause and effect diagram, or Ishikawa diagram tool helps users discover the root causes of problems.
• Form: This tool allows the user to create forms such as FMEA, Problem Solving Guide, SWOT Analysis, Customers and Suppliers, Process Boundaries, QFD ... and many, many more.
• Slide Show: They provide just-in-time training on a wide variety of subjects, covering everything from the basics of quality improvement and teamwork to how to use each tool.

i pathmaker Improvement Management Software: Benefits

• Speed: Reduce the Cycle Time for Improvements
  If you can improve a process in three months instead of six months - you reap the benefits earlier, and staunch the bleeding sooner. This can be huge.
• Quality: Make Better Improvements
  If you can get a 10% improvement without software support, and a 30% improvement with software support, again, the benefits can be enormous, especially when you focus on things that are critical to your organisation's success.
• Quantity: Reduce Staff Time on Projects
  If you have 6 people on a team, and each one spends 10 hours a week on a project for six months, that's 9 man months. The salary costs alone are substantial. If you cut that in half, you save some money - far more than your software cost. But, if you can also make money with the time that gets freed up. This again, can have a major impact on your bottom line.
• Costs: Reduce travel expenses
  It's not just the air fares, the hotel rooms, the rental cars and the meals. Those are expensive enough. But, the hidden expense in travel is in the preparation, the wear and tear, the loss of productive time, the burnout, the loss of continuity. Even when things go right. And of course, we all can remember times when they have not...

PathMaker - Calculate your Return-on-Investment

You are invited to download and open an Excel spreadsheet at http://www.noweco.com/download/costbenefits.xls.

PathMaker Software for effective management projects is developed by

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