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Whole Foods Self-Scanning Bays Offer a Preview of Hell:
Hell is warmer, but that’s the only difference

Shoppers who are naughtier than nice get an accurate approximation of what awaits them in the afterlife when they use self-checkout at Whole Foods. Whole Foods is my local stop for delicacies, splurges, and items I can’t buy elsewhere. Whole Foods is too expensive to use as my sole supermarket. Consequently, my Whole Foods trips occur less frequently than my weekly non-Whole Foods supermarket trips and usually consist of ten… Read More »Whole Foods Self-Scanning Bays Offer a Preview of Hell:
Hell is warmer, but that’s the only difference

When a Smart Cart Calls You a Thief Without Calling You a Thief:
How supermarkets attempt to mitigate theft and reduce inventory shrink

In an astonishing 2023 Lending Tree survey of 2,000 shoppers, 15% confessed to intentionally stealing at the grocery store self-checkout. Undoubtedly, the percentage is even higher since many are unwilling to expose their perfidy to pollsters. Humans are uniquely capable of rationalizing their dishonest behavior. Shoppers may feel compelled to use self-checkout because the queues at the more limited full-service lanes are excessively long. Consequently, shoppers may feel justified in… Read More »When a Smart Cart Calls You a Thief Without Calling You a Thief:
How supermarkets attempt to mitigate theft and reduce inventory shrink

Solving A Weighty Grocery Scanning Dilemma:
Improving upon produce barcode scales

To seduce buyers with the aromas and vibrant colors of fresh fruits and vegetables, grocers typically locate produce sections near the front of the store. If the produce is sufficiently sexy, grocers anticipate that the dopamine hit will encourage shoppers to open their wallets wider as they traipse through the aisles. Efficiency hounds like me use Giant Food’s (a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize) ScanIt scanners in lieu of checking out… Read More »Solving A Weighty Grocery Scanning Dilemma:
Improving upon produce barcode scales

Recognize Failure and Avoid the Sunk Cost Fallacy:
There's no shame in shooting for the moon and missing

Failing fast is one of the most overworked business tropes. The underlying motivation is for companies to take big risks with immense potential payoffs. To fail fast, the company must put sensors in place to recognize early if the risky move is panning out and worth continuing.  In comparative mythology, the hero’s journey requires the protagonist to face and overcome adversity before they become worthy of winning. Biographers of business… Read More »Recognize Failure and Avoid the Sunk Cost Fallacy:
There's no shame in shooting for the moon and missing

Firefighters putting out an uncontrolled blaze in a building

Containing and Eliminating Business Fires:
Unexpected catastrophes kill companies

Startups are motivated by youthful energy, fueled by adrenaline, and supplemented by caffeine. The frenetic pace of a startup cannot be sustained forever.  If a company remains a startup too long, it will either burn through its cash or the original team will become too long in the tooth to muster the same enthusiasm that powered its early victories. Or both.  Companies that successfully navigate the transition from a startup… Read More »Containing and Eliminating Business Fires:
Unexpected catastrophes kill companies

Boxers fighting in the ring

Listen to Mike Tyson and Avoid These 5 Project Planning Pitfalls:
The best-laid plans go so easily awry

As Mike Tyson so eloquently stated, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Iron Mike’s subtext is that, when faced with obstacles, even the best-laid plans go to hell.  Zigging and zagging become easier when a team is unencumbered by grandiose long-term plans. Here are some ideas about how to keep project plans achievable and maintain your sanity in the process. 1. Know thy business If you… Read More »Listen to Mike Tyson and Avoid These 5 Project Planning Pitfalls:
The best-laid plans go so easily awry

A flight of craft beer

The Commonality of Craft Brewing and Software Development:
The benefits of small-batch brewing and small-batch coding

Imagine a small craft brewery that produces award-winning India Pale Ales (IPAs) and stouts. The brewery is acquired by a national brand determined to make the beer available countrywide.  Somehow, whatever gave the beer its uniqueness in small batches cannot be replicated on a large scale, and it doesn’t taste as good as before. It may be a matter of micromanaging small-batch brewing along the way. For example, the brewmaster… Read More »The Commonality of Craft Brewing and Software Development:
The benefits of small-batch brewing and small-batch coding

Two surfers in the water

Burger Shack and the Beach Bum Burger Moguls:
A case study in how growth stresses an organization

Suppose two beach-bum friends start up a burger stand at the beach. They share a vision of high-quality burgers at a fair price. They also want a lifestyle that enables them to surf every morning and make enough money to afford their rent.  They set up a grill in a little hut with a window where they serve lunch to customers. When the friends begin, they offer hamburgers, cheeseburgers, lettuce,… Read More »Burger Shack and the Beach Bum Burger Moguls:
A case study in how growth stresses an organization

A muddy rugby scrum

Agile’s Dirtiest Secret:
Working before getting answers causes chaos

Ask almost any technical team nowadays, and they’ll claim they’re using some flavor of Agile practices instead of the debunked Waterfall method.  Teams using Scrum may engage in story point poker-playing, a method of estimating the level of effort of stories. Or they may relinquish their chairs for daily standup meetings. The corniness of Scrum aside, there’s no arguing that the Agile Manifesto is rock solid.  Still, the technical landscape… Read More »Agile’s Dirtiest Secret:
Working before getting answers causes chaos

Leonardo da Vinci’s Performance Review:
Choosing the right employee for a job

Sometimes only one employee is qualified for a job. Sometimes speed is more important than expertise. Savvy managers routinely gain enough understanding of new projects to target the work to the workers’ strengths.  Even in creative fields, managers determine which worker is best for a job based on their speed and skill. Take a profession as inherently immeasurable as art. Art benefactors are middle managers who know the go-to person… Read More »Leonardo da Vinci’s Performance Review:
Choosing the right employee for a job