Executive Summary
My friend Larry loves chocolate chip cookies, and especially loves a recipe that I use, and he asked for the recipe, and I obliged. Then recently I got a call from Larry.
“I made your cookies, and they turned out terrible! What did I do wrong?”
“Did you follow the directions?”
“Yes, I used all of the ingredients on the list you gave me.”
“Well, tell me what you did, step by step.”
As Larry reviewed how he put each ingredient in the bowl in the order listed in the recipe, it occurred to me that he hadn’t followed the directions. Now he was left with a bowl of lumpy flour, sugar, butter, and chocolate chips.
When it comes to certain things, it’s important they be done carefully and with close attention to details. For instance, taxes. Assembling IKEA furniture. And, of course, baking. Add to this list: open-book management (OBM).
