Below are articles written or papers presented at conferences by TQS staff. We hope you find this information useful. If you have something that you would like to share on the topic of employee involvement in this section, please forward it to us for review.

NOTE: Most documents are in Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf) format (go to the Adobe web site to download this software if you don't have it - select the Get Adobe Reader option). Some documents are large and may take several minutes to download.

Innovation - Creating Organizations that Resolve Problems Effectively and Create New Opportunities

Look here for a new series of articles coming out in 2006-2007 that will focus on creating/sustaining high performing organizations.  This will include current issues such as Lean and look at other ways organizations can support innovation.

• Idea Based Innovation (PDF 76K) - An excerpt from the forthcoming 2nd edition of The A to Z of Idea Management for Organizational Improvement and Innovation written by James A Schwarz . A reference on innovating and transforming our organizations by creating high performing idea and recognition systems.

• Innovation and Involvement (PDF 109K) - Organizations need to evolve to stay competitive or stay viable. This requires innovation - which comes from involving key stakeholders in our organization to find better ways of accomplishing things while serving customers with new products and services. This relates to both the public and private sectors. Written by James Schwarz - September 2006

General Articles on Recognition

These articles help you create well run recognition programs. This is a new section and check back to see new offerings in the future. Total Quality Systems Software also provides software solutions to manage a wide range of recognition programs - please contact us!

• Recognition Model (PDF 80K) - Most organizations have several ways of recognizing employees. These may be formal or informal programs. A single page look at how recognition programs can interact in your organization. This is an excerpt from the forthcoming book by Jim Schwarz in late 2006 on ideas and recognition.

The 'Checklist for Success' reviews the health of your recognition program. Call Jim @ 928.527.0002 to order it. This useful tool was created by Total Quality Systems Software to allow you to quickly score your recognition program (as well as suggestions, ideas, teams, and safety programs) and find areas you'd like to improve.

General Idea and Suggestion System Management Articles

These articles help you create and maintain high-performing idea systems.

New Book - Jim Schwarz at Total Quality Systems Software is also finishing up a new book on idea and recognition management that will be available Fall of 2006 Contact us if you would like to review a draft of this book or purchase one when they become available.

• Leadership Presentation to New York Air Brake on Idea Systems (PPT 591K) – this was a September 2007 presentation Jim Schwarz made to the leadership of New York Air Brake about the continuous improvement program they were in the process of rolling out.  At this point a final name for the program wasn’t defined and an interim name of “Together We Improve” was used until the results of staff feedback selected the final name.

• Lessons From the Trenches (PPT 766K) - Presented by Jim Schwarz at the 2007 Ideas Arabia conference in Dubai. Ideas Arabia is part of the Dubai Quality group. It covers key tips from Jim's 19+ years working with idea systems globally. When compiling his book on idea systems, he gleaned out key elements to consider for effective idea systems.

• The Value of an Idea (PDF 76K) - Presented by Jim Schwarz at the Ideas.UK conference 2006 in London, UK. It discusses the traditional methods of valuing an idea as well as other approaches to measure the value of an idea. Many idea and suggestion systems (in the UK the term schemes instead of systems is often used) focus on the cash savings of an idea and miss out on other opportunities to show the value of an idea system to management. This includes the usability of an idea along with utilizing idea data as a drumbeat of how the organization is performing.

• Ideas Are as Fragile as Glass (PDF 186K) - Presented by Jim Schwarz at the EIA National Conference 2006 in Palm Springs. It reviews in an interactive format the many places where a great idea can be broken or its submitter(s) discouraged from ever participating in a suggestion or idea system in the future. Results of the interactive session are included at the end of the presentation.

• Suggestions Systems - Survival in the Information Age (PowerPoint 86K) - Presentation by Jim Schwarz at the EIA Michigan chapter meeting - June 2006 in Ann Arbor MI. In order to compete and remain vital our organizations are being challenged to innovate.The presentation deals with evolving our suggestions systems and idea systems to embrace a problem solving culture in today's high tech world.

• Capturing People's Ideas (PowerPoint 332KB) is the presentation slides from the November 2005 Ideas.UK presentation in Chester, England by Jim Schwarz. This reviews key issues around successfully capturing people's ideas. A questionnaire (PDF 40K) was provided at the end of the presentation and reviewed key items in a successful idea system.

• Getting Ideas Resolved - A handy, single-page article that covers key items to successful idea resolution. Designed so you could post it on your office wall as a helpful reference (PDF 19K).

• Idea Management - Innovating by Capturing and Sharing People's Ideas  is an overview of the umbrella of idea processes that comprise idea management and a good primer on the topic.  Written by Jim Schwarz (May 2005) and was part of a presentation at the EIA 2005 fall conference in Scottsdale, AZ.  (PDF file - 80K)

• Process Improvement  & WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?)  discusses how stakeholders in process improvement need to get something back for it to be effective.  Process improvement includes continuous improvement, suggestions and corrective actions and isn't just a manufacturing issue.  We all have processes or functions that need optimizing.  Written by Robert Schwarz - May 2005. (PDF file - 80K) .

• GET e-VALUE-ated Paper presented by Del Despain & Maria Reidhead, EIA 2003 Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (PowerPoint presentation - 880K) GET e-VALUE-ated (grey scale PDF - for users without Powerpoint 1 MEG) .

• Best Practice Idea Management Systems (DOC 95 KB) Paper presented by Jim Schwarz, Annual Center for Suggestion System Development 2003 Best Practice Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• What Makes Best Practice Idea Processes Work? (PDF 111 KB) Paper presented by Jim Schwarz, EIA 2000 conference in Orlando,Florida.

• It's annual audit time. (PDF 56 KB) Keeping any form of employee involvement program up-to-date is important for the long-term success of those programs. This article reviews services Total Quality Systems Software can provide.

Take a quick health check of your process.

We also have created a more comprehensive 'Checklist for Success' to further review the health of your process. Call Jim @ 928.527.0002 to order them. This useful tool allows you to quickly score your suggestion, idea, team, safety or recognition program and find areas you'd like to improve.

Software Systems to Manage Employee Involvement as Well as Supplier and Customer Idea Systems

• How the SIM software management system relates to the Malcom Baldrige Award

• Selecting the Right EI Software (PDF 90KB) is helpful when specifying the best program management software to suit your needs.

• Breaking the Paperwork Barrier - Going On-Line (PDF 124 KB) Paper presented at EIA 2000 conference in Orlando, Florida by John Gakopoulos of Holsum Bakery, Phoenix, Arizona and Jim Schwarz of Total Quality Systems.

• Issues to consider when purchasing or creating software.(PDF 77 KB)

• Success Stories. Review other organizations that have had success using the SIM software management system.

For more information on TQS, download our brochure reviewing TQS Products and Services - including training, consulting, outsourcing and software.