OUT OF THE BOX 2002 IURPA / SCRPA / SURPA Conference OUT OF THE BOX Thursday – June 20, 2002 Tommy Mayne Entergy Corporation Manager Revenue Assurance

First Two Issues for discussion Safety God Bless America!

Why out of the BOX!! Preaching to the Choir Never got the sinners to repent

Exercise

Our ability to look at ourselves makes us human!

Why out of the box? “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” A.Einstein

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What you should expect today Quotes from various sources Exercises Cartoons Attempts at Humor INTERACTIVE PRESENTATION

What does “Out of the box” mean to you? Creativity New Ideas Old Ideas looked at differently New approaches to old problems OUT IN LEFT FIELD!

What does “Out of the box” mean to you? ARE YOU CREATIVE ? ARE YOU OPEN TO CREATIVITY? ARE THE THIEVES YOU DEAL WITH CREATIVE ?

Recognize creativity POST ‘EM NOTES

It isn’t that they can’t see the solution. It’s that they can’t see the problem. G. K. Chersterton Critic, novelist, poet There are a thousand hacking at the branches of a problem to one who is striking at the root. Henry David Thoreau Writer, poet

Exercises Driving a car/raining/stop sign 3 left turns Pass the ball

Reference Materials Seven Habits of Highly Effective People : Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work & in Your Life Who Moved My Cheese? : An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work & in Your Life by Spencer Johnson

Reference Materials Orbiting the Giant Hairball : A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie

So this sounds good, BUT The Corporation

Bring a new idea to management

The things we fear most in organizations – fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances – are the primary sources of creativity. Margaret J. Wheatley Author on systems thinking We run like mad, and then we change direction. Bert Roberts Chief strategist, MCI

“ When you’re slapped, you’ll take it and you’ll like it.” - Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon

What can you do ???????? Work related: Encourage new ideas or new ways to attack old ideas Listen for creative thinking and water guns Reward odd ball ideas Try something new

What can you do ???????? There are very few new ideas just poor implementation Work as small teams and units “Separate we are dumb, together we’re brilliant” Don’t let rules and regulations stop the real goal of what you are trying to accomplish celebrate, Celebrate, CELEBRATE

What can you do ???????? Challenge your group and give them the room to do it.

Cycle Time Reduction Time from when the problem occurs to when the bill is recommended. Includes –Finding the problem, –Identifying and getting it fixed –Recommending the adjusted bill. Cycle Time

1.Blank Display 2.Meter not read 3.Account not set up 4.Multiplier(s) incorrect 5.Electronic display error 6.Register faulty-gas 7.Meter damaged 8.Ct/Pt lightning damage 9.Account incorrectly billed 10.Ct/Pt open 11.*Ct/Pt wiring faulty Top Ten * In New Orleans you always get some lagniappe

What can you do ???????? Personally: Shave with your opposite hand Move your watch to the other wrist Take a different route to work/home Read a new book not related to your job Recognize that you are creative

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