Module 1 – Chapter 2 – Maturity Assessment

Maturity Assessment for Building a Daily Management System

• This chapter details the journey of a company improving its management system through continuous improvement.
• Maturity levels describe the performance level relative to best practice, with five levels: Novice, Learning, Competent, Sophisticated, and World-Class.

Maturity Levels Explained

Level 1: Novice

• Companies in this stage are just starting and have a basic management system, lacking clear structure and traditional thinking.
• Employees commonly use phrases like "no time for this" or "this is how it's always been done".
• Instructions are given by superiors with little evidence that managers care about employee performance.
• Team members avoid challenging tasks rather than striving for improvement.

Level 2: Learning

• Companies are starting to improve, often focusing on a single area or undertaking various unrelated initiatives.
• Phrases like "We have never thought about it this way" or "Why don't they test it?" are common.
• The organisational structure is clear, with managers controlling 8-12 team members in routine environments.
• Team members have positive attitudes towards instructions, and feel comfortable contributing ideas.
• Core company values are clearly defined.

Level 3: Competent

• Companies begin to embrace continuous improvement principles.
• Broad-scale application of principles leads to improved productivity, quality, and client relations.
• Top management goals are clear at all levels.
• Specific team objectives are visualised, using boards to track progress.
• Managers provide supportive coaching to teams.
• Day-to-day supportive coaching on performance is present

Level 4: Sophisticated

• Teamwork is common, across departments and functions, aiming to achieve shared goals.
• Information flows well, between different levels of the company.
• End-to-end processes are managed across all modules.
• Multi-level meetings are used. Previous year's performance is reviewed with company goals adjusted as needed.
• Team members consistently start improvements and use root cause analysis efficiently.
• Systems-based approach to problem-solving.

Level 5: World-Class

• Companies embrace change, are highly flexible, and adaptable to environmental pressures.
• Executives and staff share common objectives.
• Individuals understand the impact of their daily work.
• Bottom-up and top-down collaboration is encouraged.
• Companies have a collaborative spirit, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• At least 80% of the goals are achieved in the mid-term meeting, and 100% by the end of the year.
• Improvements extend to corporate office departments.

Assessment Activity

• There's an accompanying Excel spreadsheet for calculating a maturity score.
• Activities include defining the purpose of maturity assessments, frequency for internal and external assessments, and how results should be used.