Management cockpit

Management cockpit is a management methodology designed to improve the efficiency of a company, similar to Balanced scorecard.

History

Management cockpit represents the fourth generation of reports (after financial reports, scorecards, and prospective dashboards). This concept was developped in 1989 by Patrick Georges, professor of management (Solvay Business School, HEC Paris, Collège des Ingénieurs) and neurosurgeon specialized in human intelligence.

Principles

The concept is based on 4 principles, which differentiate this methodology from its predecessors :

1. Ergonomic presentation : Based on cognitive sciences, data are represented with symbols to avoid any perception bias.
2. Operational KPI : Management cockpit integrates operational as well as tactical and strategic indicators. It cascades people accountability at each level of the organization.
3. Structural approach : Management cockpit proposes an implementation methodology, through for example « cockpit briefing ».
4. Automation : Data are periodically updated by IT systems or human intervention into a dedicated software which enables reporting and monitoring of selected KPIs

Usually display is divided in 4 walls, 6 logical view per wall and 6 indicators per view. The 4 walls follow the human brain reasoning :

1. What are our targets ?
2. What are our difficulty ?
3. How are our resources ?
4. How are our projects ?

Logical views give the answer of a question with 6 indicators or KPI (Key Performance Indicator). e.g. : "Do we improve our productivity ?"

Tools

Different tools could support the approach. They have to provide all of the communication and collaboration required for this kind of project. They must be simple, visual, and easy to understand.

Among them we can mention :

1. smartcockpit : http://www.smartcockpit.ch/en/

See also

• Balanced Scorecard
• Cognitive Process Profile
• Management
• Strategic planning
• Strategy visualization

References

fr:Management Cockpit