INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Process time measures how long it takes to complete the steps of creating a product or service. Other time metrics measure time spent adding value to a project, or how long it takes to respond to a customer's request. Metric calculations may include the percent on time delivery. Reducing process time is a proven strategy for better business. Doing so allows for greater production and delivers the product or service sooner. Consider furniture manufacturing. All things being equal, customers would rather receive their new couch or dining room set sooner rather than later. If you can reduce process time, you improve your chances for repeat orders and new business. Cost metrics assess the total cost of the production process. They also measure operational costs relative to production levels. Cost per transaction measures the cost to produce one unit. Cost savings measures reduction in costs per transaction. Labor savings measures a reduction in labor hours needed to produce the product or service. Cost reduction strategies become important to businesses when revenue starts to decline. For example, when Bank of America experienced a downturn in lending and trading revenue in 2011, they decided to reduce their workforce in order to continue delivering revenues to shareholders. Bank managers and consultants decided to use cost metrics to identify jobs to eliminate that could save the most money without compromising the organization. Quality metrics measure customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction data can be gathered from surveys, registered complaints and other feedback. Quality metrics also assess whether the process creates value for the customer. They also look at the frequency of errors and the need for reworks. The defect rate looks at the percentage of mistakes. The percent complete and accurate rate measures how often no mistakes are made. The healthcare industry relies heavily on quality metrics. Quality improvement must be data-driven. Analysts look at financial and clinical data to identify variations in how health care is delivered by providers. They break down the process and find areas of waste or redundancy in order to create a process that delivers a high-quality clinical outcome. The cost reduction is not valuable unless it increases or maintains the current level of quality provided. The key in quality improvement is to increase efficiency without compromising effectiveness. Efficiency refers to the amount of resources necessary to deliver a product or service. Effectiveness refers to how well the objectives of the product or service have been achieved. Output metrics measure the quantity of products or services produced in a given time period. The production goal should align with customer demand. Output metrics also look at backlogs and excess inventory. These should be minimal. Finally, works in progress is measured. This determines the number of products or services in the pipeline. One strategy for increasing output in manufacturing is standardized work. For example, in the automobile industry, auto makers have a standard method for assembling cars. Manufacturers can standardize production processes with the goal of increasing output. Metrics can help to analyze how well a process improves the output for the manufacturer. If more products are produced in a given time with the new standardized process, then it is a success. This metric measures how many steps are in the production process. It also looks at how often the process is slowed by changing hands or requiring supervisory approval. The total number of process steps is calculated, along with the number of value-added process steps. These are the steps that make the product or service more valuable. Loop backs, or the number of times a product is sent back to correct errors, is also measured. Companies aim to reduce the complexity in their processes, organization, products and information systems in order to stimulate growth, reduce costs and increase returns. Measuring process complexity helps managers to identify where products or services fully meet customer needs at the lowest cost. It helps to reveal hidden costs in overly complicated processes. It allows companies to identify which products are most profitable, what customers really value and where process bottlenecks are getting in the way of efficiency.

SUMMARY: Measure time. Measure costs. Measure quality. Measure output. Measure process complexity.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This can be difficult for someone who habitually thinks negatively of themselves, but try to find one positive thing about yourself to add to the list once a week. At the end of each day, reflect on your entire list. Make your list very specific. Instead of using general adjectives to describe yourself, try listing specific actions or attributes that describe who you are and what you do. For example, instead of simply saying "I am generous," you can write "Any time I know that a friend is struggling, I give her a small, thoughtful gift to show that I care. This makes me generous." As you read and reflect on your list, remember that each item on the list, however insignificant it may seem, is a reason that you are worthy of respect and love. Do not feel guilty for spending time thinking about and reflecting on yourself and your own life. It is important to give yourself the time and permission for self-love. You will likely find that by doing so, you are more able to spend quality time helping others. This is the fun part of self-love: rewarding yourself! If you have had a significant accomplishment, celebrate it with a nice dinner at your favorite fancy restaurant. Think of all of the hard work you do every day, and find a reason to reward yourself with something nice. Buy yourself the new book or video game you've had your eye on. Take a long shower or bubble bath. Go on a solo fishing trip or get a massage. Notice what tends to throw you off from your current path of self-love, and decide how to deal with those things. Realize that you cannot control the words and actions of others, but you can control your responses and reactions. You may notice that negative comments from one particular person, such as your mom or your boss, set you off into a spiral of negativity. If this happens consistently, try to identify why this is. Decide how you will deal with negative thoughts you do have. You may need to give yourself a time-out to meditate or breathe. Acknowledge your feelings and reframe your negative reaction with positive reminders of your self-worth. Exploring negative thoughts and identifying triggers for your emotions can bring up feelings or memories from your past that are difficult to deal with. A therapist who is experienced with addressing painful pasts can help you navigate through the experience of recovery without causing you to relive painful experiences. A therapist's office can be a great place to learn to handle your negative thoughts productively and realize your positive qualities. Find some positive thoughts that help you feel better, and repeat them daily. This may seem awkward or cheesy at first, but the habit will cause the positive thoughts to sink in, and you will begin to believe them, even if you don't at first. A good positive affirmation to promote self-love is: "I am a whole, worthy individual, and I respect, trust, and love myself." If you find that the affirmations are not helping on their own, try visiting a therapist and pursuing a multi-level treatment that includes other approaches as well. Think of feeling good physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Do what it takes to feel good in multiple ways; it may require exercise, meditation, dancing and keeping a positivity journal. Find a routine that feels good and stick to it. Spend time alone doing activities you love, or take yourself on a fun outing such as going to the movies or even going out to eat, whether it be pizza or your favorite dessert. Don't forget to take advantage of alone time and use it for pleasure! When you spend time loving and rewarding yourself, you will likely see benefits in other areas of your life. Notice whether you have more energy, or if you are able to be more present with others. You might start to feel like you are more in charge of the choices you make, and that you have more control of your life.

SUMMARY:
List your positive attributes and reflect on them daily. Give yourself the gift of time. Celebrate and reward yourself. Develop a plan for dealing with setbacks or negativity. Visit a therapist. Repeat positive affirmations daily. Do things that make you feel good. Reflect on the effects of practicing self-love.