EMS 04 Attack Policies, Not Behaviors   In our previous minute, we discussed how Critical Chain provides a new set of rules to effectively manage project execution: Pipeline - Limit the number of projects in execution based on the most limited resources. Buffer – Allow tasks to be late and strip out safeties hidden inside task estimates. Buffer Management – Monitor the consumption of buffers to prioritize tasks and provide early warning signals. Used successfully by private and public sector organizations around the world, Critical Chain is redefining performance standards for project-based operations. 20-40% improvements in throughput and lead times are typical. The ability to deliver projects on time and on target is even more icing on the cake. It is however a myth that you need to change how people behave (procrastination, multitasking, unnecessary polishing of already finished work, etc.) in order to improve project performance. The reality is that by practicing the following policy changes will be much more productive: Replace measurements that require individual tasks to finish on time with the ones that drive low work-in-process. Mandate a minimum amount of protective time in each project, typically 50% of the sum of tasks, to assure uninterrupted flow of work. Make project due-dates sacrosanct, to be changed only by senior management. Yes, you might get some initial successes by focusing on behaviors, but they won’t last. More importantly, changing behaviors in a large organization can take forever. Instead, institutionalizing these new Critical Chain based management policies will change behaviors on their own much faster. Behaviors will change gradually in response to these new management policies, which then will enhance the results even further. And that's the Execution Management Minute for this week.