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The Mars Pathfinder Approach to "faster-better-cheaper"
There's a new market battle cry being sounded around the Faster-Better-Cheaper. Organizations everywhere are in a competitive war trying to pick up speed, improve output, and do it all for less money. Actually, "improvement" per se isn't too hard to come by with all of today's technological advancements. The tricky part comes in doing things faster, better, and cheaper all at the same time. That takes creativity. Ingenuity. Innovation. To help your employees grow in this regard, they need role models. Good examples. It helps greatly to see living proof of "faster-better-cheaper" in action.
Price Pritchett's latest title, The Mars Pathfinder Approach to "Faster-Better-Cheaper" provides that proof, and breaks it down into 13 high-impact guidelines your employees can use to drive your organization to spectacular success.
Co-authored with Brian Muirhead, Flight Systems Manager of the JPL Mars Pathfinder Team, this book shows how a small group of dedicated people-tapping into the spirit of ingenuity and innovation-proved "faster-better-cheaper" works in deep space as well as it does on Earth.
Most important, the book draws the "faster-better-cheaper" business messages out of this intriguing story, and shows your employees how to apply them in your organization.
Price Pritchett's latest title, The Mars Pathfinder Approach to "Faster-Better-Cheaper" provides that proof, and breaks it down into 13 high-impact guidelines your employees can use to drive your organization to spectacular success.
Co-authored with Brian Muirhead, Flight Systems Manager of the JPL Mars Pathfinder Team, this book shows how a small group of dedicated people-tapping into the spirit of ingenuity and innovation-proved "faster-better-cheaper" works in deep space as well as it does on Earth.
Most important, the book draws the "faster-better-cheaper" business messages out of this intriguing story, and shows your employees how to apply them in your organization.
- GenresBusiness
Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 23, 2024
This reminds me of The Best Story Wins: a deconstruction of certain events and how to apply the lessons learned to a broader reach. Unlike Pixar, who can literally make up anything, this focuses more on problem solving to accomplish more/faster/better/cheaper.
This is also much shorter than Luhn's book, probably because it's ONLY looking at the Mars Pathfinder, vs. Luhn's own experience combined with Pixar's. Even then, there are a lot of double-spaced sections, like it's trying to meet a page count or adjust to keep the chapter layouts similar (chapter title spread, double-spaced lesson summary, interview with photo).
I do like the anecdote about, when a project was ending, the staff were approached about trying a different project in a new area of study for them, rather than being let go just because the original job was finished. Not that my own job would ever come to an end (unless people stop coming into the country entirely, which I don't imagine happening despite certain xenophobic parties), but I've certainly been asked to move around to different areas rather than being one-note for my entire tenure. I didn't like it at first, but it's definitely a better approach, since I now have a better understanding of the entire "portfolio" of work we perform.
Of course, my spouse pointed out that this book is almost entirely an advertisement to generate more funding, which I discovered upon reaching the order form:
Can you imagine buying TEN THOUSAND OR MORE of ONE BOOK??? That had better be SOME convention!
Anyway, I guess it's fine for a money grab, but I prefer Luhn's a little more.
This is also much shorter than Luhn's book, probably because it's ONLY looking at the Mars Pathfinder, vs. Luhn's own experience combined with Pixar's. Even then, there are a lot of double-spaced sections, like it's trying to meet a page count or adjust to keep the chapter layouts similar (chapter title spread, double-spaced lesson summary, interview with photo).
I do like the anecdote about, when a project was ending, the staff were approached about trying a different project in a new area of study for them, rather than being let go just because the original job was finished. Not that my own job would ever come to an end (unless people stop coming into the country entirely, which I don't imagine happening despite certain xenophobic parties), but I've certainly been asked to move around to different areas rather than being one-note for my entire tenure. I didn't like it at first, but it's definitely a better approach, since I now have a better understanding of the entire "portfolio" of work we perform.
Of course, my spouse pointed out that this book is almost entirely an advertisement to generate more funding, which I discovered upon reaching the order form:
Can you imagine buying TEN THOUSAND OR MORE of ONE BOOK??? That had better be SOME convention!
Anyway, I guess it's fine for a money grab, but I prefer Luhn's a little more.
September 15, 2018
The fundamental concepts were interesting but for me it felt a little preachy. Didn't find it engaging. It was a skimmer for me.
September 12, 2008
This book, a nice short read, was given to me by my leader at work. Several months before I went to work there, they built an entire movement around this book. Along with stories from project managers working on the Mars Pathfinder mission in the 90's, the book presented several keys to achieving goals "faster, better, and cheaper." While I understand it's purpose and think it did a fine job, I would have enjoyed more details on some of the Pathfinder stories.
September 28, 2015
OR... How NASA/JPL booked a trip to Mars for less than the budget of WaterWorld. Motivating business theory surrounding the Mars Pathfinder mission and the team philosophy of Faster-Better-Cheaper.
Recommended for any space geeks, manufacturing management, or indie filmmakers.
Recommended for any space geeks, manufacturing management, or indie filmmakers.
November 5, 2009
Awesome!
July 28, 2015
Some of the chapters were thoughtful, but the majority was more like motivation lecture with not much specific information. Short and easy read. Amazing pictures from project development included.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews