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Darth Vader Versus Jedi Management
Techniques
W
ith the imminent release of Star Wars 3D costing the organization more money than antici-
on February 10th, my youth resurfaced pated. Tell-tale signs include:
and of course a blog post was conceived.
Today’s post is a partial tribute to my favorite film • Out of control labor costs due to overtime.
series along with a healthy dose of maintenance • Excessive repairs from assets that have not
management for turnaround situations. been maintenance properly with preventive
maintenance, inspections or any mainte-
nance methodology.
• Completely reactive maintenance with huge
maintenance backlogs.
• Unplanned capital expenditures from asset
failing unexpectedly.
• Skyrocketing energy costs as a result of as-
sets not being maintained.
Successful turnarounds start with a strong indivi-
dual capable of quickly accessing maintenance staff
skill levels, tools and attitudes. Changes will come
from a combination of CMMS technology, directives,
http://www.mintek.com/blog/eam-cmms/darth-vader-jedi-management-techniques/
coaching, training, and finding the maintenance
stars who embrace change.
There are a lot of different management styles ran-
ging from highly authoritarian (Darth Vader and
the Emperor) to facilitators (The Jedi Council) to
coaching (Obi-won Kenobi). In my experience there
is a place and a time for each style depending on
the cast of players and the objective to be achieved.
Each management style has its limitations and effec-
tiveness on the maintenance operations it is trying
to manage. Let us take a look at the pros and cons
of the three styles in the context of a turnaround
situation.
A maintenance turnaround situation is when main-
tenance operations is not performing well and is
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Darth Vader Versus Jedi Management Techniques
Darth Vader Management countability for the change.
The cons will always outweigh the pros of a Darth
Vader management style because this management
style has a tendency to bring out the 7 Deadly Sins
of Asset Management as well as:
• Maintenance employees will quickly lose
their fear or find ways to circumvent the
changes.
• Maintenance employees have no buy-in to
the change. With-out buy-in, change will not
obtain the desired objectives.
• Employee turnover increases as good
people rarely like to be threatened. This
lowers the asset knowledge base unless a
CMMS system has been recording work
Darth Vader is now a part of the American pop history, creating SOPs etc..
cultural and represents the bad or evil way of doing • New employee recruitment suffers. Skilled
things. In essence, Darth Vader is a strong individual maintenance workers are retiring faster
capable of taking charge and executing immediate than can be replaced. New maintenance
change using fear as his weapon. staff will not find the authoritative Darth
Vader style management desirable.
Typical characteristics of this management style
The Jedi Council
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include some familiar clichés such as:
• “There is a new Sheriff in town and if you The Jedi Council (senior management, asset and
don’t it, I will shoot you (firing the em- maintenance managers) uses its power to facilitate
ployee) change through collaboration. In best case scenarios,
• “My way or the highway” senior management appoints (hires) a new asset
• “You need to work harder and longer and and maintenance leader as well as a maintenance
for less pay” planner and the appropriate CMMS programs to
turnaround their operations.
In general, this style of management makes either
direct or implied threats to employees in order to The idea is bring about change through technology,
execute change. The employee empowerment and training. Employee
pros of this style are limited but include: buy-in is at the top of the goals list and the new
manager is a skilled motivator. The
• Ensures everyone is aware that change is pros of this approach are significant because:
needed and coming.
• Will quickly identify the dragons in an orga- • The reason for change is explained in a
nization who will inhibit change. non-threatening yet matter-of-fact need for
• Establishes immediate authority and ac- company survival.
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Darth Vader Versus Jedi Management Techniques
• Engaging employees in the change to a Getting the most from introverted staff often re-
CMMS system shows them how they can do quires a great coach like Obi-wan who sees the
their job more effectively and efficiently. potential in someone and tries to develop them.
• Buy-in is achieved as a result of staff reco- With proper coaching these people can generate
gnizing and making suggestions on how to significant cost savings ideas and often become the
make improvements. Subsequent empower- future of the company.
ment to execute changes locks in the CMMS
buy-in. As with the other two management styles this one
• Employee turnover is limited to mainte- has its pro’s and con’s too. The most significant pro
nance staff unable to adopt to technology or was just mentioned. The cons are that:
change.
• The Jedi Council ensures that the resources • Too much time is given to one individual
need for the changes are available (techno- leaving other staff feeling neglected and the
logy, training, time). CMMS implementation suffers.
• Not everyone can be coached, some people
The cons of this approach to implementing a CMMS need more direction or authoritative super-
solution are limited to: vision than others. Good coaches are not
always good managers.
• The facilitators resolve in making sure the
resources needed are available. Fighting for These are only some of the things that can make the
resources is always a battle. This is a long difference in turning around a failing maintenance
term war, facilitators must be prepared. operation. As previously mentioned, there is a time
• Sometimes decisions get bogged down in and place for most management styles. But the best
committee or lengthy discussions. This is managers have a little bit of Darth and Jedi in their
http://www.mintek.com/blog/eam-cmms/darth-vader-jedi-management-techniques/
where the Darth Vader in the new manager management skill set.
needs to surface for a moment.
• The collective group does not always listen We hope you enjoy the 3D release tomorrow and
to maverick ideas or individuals. are here to help you with your asset and mainte-
nance management needs. If you liked this article
The Return of Jedi Maintenance you may also want to read:
The biggest problem with facilitative management Asset Management, CMMS, maintenance manage-
is that it has a tendency to limit the contributions ment
of wild and crazy ideas. Some of the best ideas for
change come from people who are not socially ac- Did you like Darth Vader Versus Jedi
tive or do not feel comfortable in group meetings, Management Techniques?
discussions etc.
Every share you make allows us to write more great
Jedi maintenance in this case refers to the ability stuff for you:
to think outside the box to find a solution. Many
times these solutions are hidden away by shy staff. • It’s how we prove that it’s worth blogging to
our bosses. Researching and writing takes
serious time.
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Darth Vader Versus Jedi Management Techniques
• I happen to get a free lunch for every post
with 10 shares... I really like free lunch.
• The whole office gets free lunch for every
post with 100 shares.
• I also like seeing our stuff on the internet.
You have to admit it’s really cool.
What enterprise blog topics interest you
the most?
Other Articles Written by stuart smith
Stuart Smith is Mintek’s InBound Marketing Specia-
list. He works hard at creating compelling content
to keep Mintek’s customers and prospects informed
with relevant information.
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