Title: Identification of positive deviance - methodology development

Authors: Ayon Chakraborty; Rajesh Prasad Mishra

Addresses: School of Business, James Cook University, 600 Upper Thomson Road, 574421, Singapore ' Mechanical Engineering Group, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Vidya Vihar, Pilani Rajasthan, PIN 333031, India

Abstract: Corporate efforts to improve the bottom line traditionally focus on shortcoming and issues. A comprehensive set of analytical tools and methodologies (e.g., lean management, Six Sigma) have been developed and are deployed in attempts to fix identified problems. However, little guidance is available on how to actually come up with improved organisational and process designs. Organisations tend to rely on approaches such as brainstorming that do not lead to consistent and reliable outcomes. It is proposed to benefit from conducting a dedicated study on internal sources for business improvement. This so-called positive deviance approach utilises internal best practices and converts successful, but hidden best practices into widely deployed, corporate practices. The paper develops a methodology to identifying exceptional performers and map their behaviours and activities which made them successful. The objective was to identify practical quick wins which can be implemented through existing account auditing activities.

Keywords: case study; organisational design; process design; quality management; benchmarking; finance; conceptual framework; qualitative study; best practice; six sigma; positive deviance; business improvement; exceptional performance; behaviour mapping; activity mapping.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2014.059452

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2014 Vol.4 No.1, pp.36 - 50

Published online: 21 Jun 2014 *

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