Continuous Improvement Isn’t Just a Process Issue - It’s a Thinking One
You can have Lean. Six Sigma. Kaizen. DMAIC. PDCA.
But without clear thinking behind them, even the best CI tools can stall.
That’s what I hear regularly from CI and Operational Excellence leaders: “We have the right methodologies in place, but we’re still hitting friction.” Not because the tools don’t work – but because people aren’t thinking clearly about how to apply them.
You don’t need to replace what you already have. You need to complement it with a thinking framework that activates ownership, alignment, and accountability across teams.
That’s exactly what the Go M.A.D.® Results Framework does.
The Missing Link in Many CI Programmes
1. CI tools diagnose processes - not thinking gaps
DMAIC and A3s are brilliant at identifying root causes and mapping inefficiencies. But they don’t help when the issue is mindset, not mechanics.
Go M.A.D. helps teams explore belief, ownership, and clarity of purpose before jumping into tools. This eliminates passive compliance and builds real engagement.
2. Not everyone thinks like a Black Belt
Your CI leads understand the methods. But most frontline teams need something more relatable, and action-oriented.
The Go M.A.D. Results® Framework is universally accessible. It gives everyone a common way to approach problems, define results, and take purposeful action.
3. CI projects often lack buy-in from the wider team
When teams aren’t involved early in the thinking, they feel excluded – and resist the change.
We equip every team with the tools and questions to lead more productive, purposeful conversations. This enables wider involvement in the problem-solving process, sparking curiosity, fresh ideas, and greater buy-in from the start.
4. Data highlights gaps - but doesn’t drive behaviour
Data alone doesn’t change culture. People need to reflect on what the data means and what they might do differently as a result.
Go M.A.D. tools help teams turn insight into intent. We ask: What result are we seeking? Why does it matter? What might we do now?
Where Go M.A.D. Fits into the CI Ecosystem
The Go M.A.D.® Results Framework doesn’t replace your existing methods – it enhances them. Think of it as the mental operating system that runs beneath your toolkits:
- It sharpens the purpose behind improvement initiatives
- It creates alignment before action
- It invites diverse perspectives without adding complexity
- It builds thinking capability alongside process capability
How to Start Integrating Go M.A.D. Into Your CI Programme
Here are 3 moves you can make this month:
1. Start every CI project with a thinking reset
Ask:
What result are we seeking? What’s our strong reason why?
Use this to focus energy before jumping into technical analysis.
2. Use Go M.A.D. questions in Kaizen events and Gemba walks
Inject powerful prompts like:
What possibilities haven’t we explored yet? Who else could we possibly involve?
It opens up thinking and surfaces practical solutions.
3. Build thinking habits alongside process tools
Coach team leaders to use Go M.A.D. questions in their everyday interactions. That’s how culture change takes hold.
Final Thought
Lean and Six Sigma improve processes. Go M.A.D. improves thinking.
When you combine both, you get faster decisions, better alignment, and stronger results.
If your CI programme needs more momentum, it might be time to look beneath the process and upgrade the thinking.
Let’s Go Make A Difference.
