The Complete Guide to Improvement
Version 7.0

2021 saw the biggest overhaul of The Complete Guide to Improvement since it was first introduced with, very unusually, two major releases in the same year. Although slightly messy, this was so clients that needed the new content got it.

The vast majority of content has been thoroughly overhauled and expanded alongside some brand new sections. Although word count isn't a measure of quality, this version is just under 162 000 words compared to 103 000 in version 5.2. We hope you enjoy both the new and improved content. Here are some of the highlights:

How to Develop and Implement Strategy

This section has been much expanded. In particular read the new content on Strategic Intelligence and Organisational Priorities.

Annual Project Planning

Annual Planning has been renamed Annual Project Planning so there is less temptation for people to add routine operation to their Project Steering Grids. There is plenty of new content.

Steering

The old Steering Methodology is no more. This has been merged with Annual Project Planning to form four new sections:

•	Steering: Annual Project Planning
•	Steering: Set Up Individual Projects
•	Steering: Projects in Progress
•	Steering: Transition to Routine Operation

Project Methodologies

The project methodologies have been completely rewritten. Make sure you read and use these for your next project as they have been streamlined and expanded based on real-life experience.

Project Events

We have added several new events based on what our clients have been up to:

•	Process Planning Events
•	Project Updates
•	Piloting and Implementation Events

Routine Operation

The three existing sections, in particular the underpinning principles and the practices for controlling routine operation, have been fully reviewed and expanded.

There are two brand new sections covering Routine Operation Events:

•	System Events
•	Routine Operation Review

Tools

The tool sections have been rewritten and expanded. New to the manual are Quick Wins and Clustering-in-Turn, both in the Tools for Planning and Organising. One name change to note (in the Tools for Analysis) is that Movement Maps are now Path Charts. Read up on that tool to find out why.

Effective Meetings

There is new content on effective Team Meetings. If you lead a team, your Team Meeting should be a highlight of your diary and this new material will help improve both enjoyment and productivity.

Data

We have expanded the section on Variation and Statistical Process Control. If you have attended any of our data training, we suggest you read through this, partly as a refresher and also for the new content.

The Data Collection, Display and Analysis Methodology and Tools for Data Display have been reorganised into four new sections:

•	Data Collection
•	Data Display
•	Data Analysis
•	Data Reporting

On-line resources

We have expanded the resources available to download from the website and these are referenced throughout the manual.

Training

All of our courses and programmes have been updated to reflect the new content. Additionally 'conversion training' is available for Facilitators covering the new Project Events and Routine Operation Events. As well as this, we can offer a variety of short (½ day to 1 day) 'Everything you need to know about…' courses as a refresher and top up on key subjects such as Annual Project Planning. Ask your UIC consultant for details.