The Checklist
We have been talking about planning as a prerequisite for sustained efficiency and quality. The systematic planning makes us more agile and we can deliver quality work in minimum time frame. Here is an example of how failure to plan has lead to a big chaos. You may have read a few days ago that Maharashtra Chief Minister’s flight could not take off from the airport because one of the officials accompanying him on the international tour had forgotten to take along his Visa papers! The Chief Minister along with the rest of the passengers had to wait till it was retrieved from his home.
The common sense answer to avoid these lapses is – the checklist. Mere planning is not useful unless it is executed flawlessly. The checklist serves as an effective tool – Plan. Do. Check whether the things are happening as per the plan. If not, Act i.e. make the necessary correction. This is called the PDCA Cycle. This is the foundation of ISO 9000.