REINERTSEN & ASSOCIATES

Tip of the Month: July 2008

The Ringelmann Effect and Batch Size

I normally stress the technical advantages of reducing batch size in product development processes. It is worth recognizing that reducing batch size also has profound psychological effects. In 1913 the French professor of agricultural engineering identified what is now known as the Ringelmann effect. The maximum pull on a rope by a group of people is less than the sum of their individual maximums.  The efficiency loss is due to coordination losses and a phenomenon known as social loafing.  Social loafing refers to the tendency for some individuals to reduce their effort when they are a member of a group.  When there are many people pulling on a rope individual effort is less visible.

This helps us understand the psychological disadvantages of large batch size. When we use large batch sizes in development processes we inherently reduce motivation. Consider the difference in being responsible for 1 module of code due in 1 week, compared to being responsible for 1 module in a batch of 100 modules that is due in 10 weeks.  If you are responsible for a single module due at a short time horizon, there is nowhere to hide. You feel accountable. If you are buried in a batch of 100 modules due in 10 weeks, there is a small probability that you will personally delay the project. You think you have plenty of time to recover from any problems. Large batches inherently dilute accountability and reduce motivation.  They undermine urgency. You will be pleasantly surprised by the psychological benefits of using smaller batch sizes. 

Books

Our books can be obtained from many on-line sources. Currently we recommend Amazon as a source for Developing Products in Half the Time and Managing the Design Factory.

and the Forthcoming Book

Chapters of the new book on Lean Product Development will be ready for review in May. Contact me if you would like an early look at what I hope will be some important new ideas.

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Upcoming Events

Public courses are shown below. Please contact us directly for information about in-company courses. We have done such courses in the United States and 18 other countries.

July 8, 2008

Practical Lean Product Development, Presentation
Parametric Technology Executive Forum: Reinventing Product Development, Seoul, Korea
By invitation only.
Information: Parametric Technology

July 10, 2008

Practical Lean Product Development, Presentation
Parametric Technology Executive Forum: Reinventing Product Development, Shanghai, China
By invitation only.
Information: Parametric Technology

July 15-16, 2008

Lean Product Development Summit,Shanghai, China
Public Event. More details later.

July 22-23, 2008

Achieving Lean Product Development, Chicago, Illinois
Information: Management Roundtable

SOLD OUT, but there is a waiting list in case someone cancels.

August 11-12, 2008

Rapid Development, Sydney, Australia
Masterclass Information: Prodex

August 13-14, 2008

Managing the Design Factory, Melbourne, Australia
Masterclass Information: Prodex

August 15, 2008

FLOW: Second Generation Methods for Lean Product Development, Sydney, Australia
Seminar Information: Prodex

August 18, 2008

New Principles for Developing Products in Half the Time, Brisbane, Australia
Seminar Information: Prodex

September 3, 2008

Practical Lean Product Development, Presentation
Parametric Technology Executive Forum: Reinventing Product Development, Taipei, Taiwan
By invitation only.
Information: Parametric Technology

September 5, 2008

Practical Lean Product Development, Presentation
Parametric Technology Executive Forum: Reinventing Product Development, Japan, Taiwan
By invitation only.
Information: Parametric Technology

Fall 2008

Lean Product Development, Midlands, England.
Information: Smallpeice Enterprises Limited

Fall  2008

Rapid Product Development Techniques, Midlands, England.
Information: Smallpeice Enterprises Limited

 

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Contact Information

Telephone

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Postal address

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Email

General Information: Don Reinertsen
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Last Update: July 5, 2008