Lean Startup
The Lean Startup method is popular with newer companies that are looking to create a product, but don’t want to risk the company’s success solely on something that has yet to be deemed as satisfactory by a potential buyer. Startups tend to fail because the company did not take customer input for improvements on a product. This…
CSS Editorial Staff | September 17, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Minimum Viable Product
A Minimum viable product (MVP) is the version of a new product that is released to early adopters with basic features in which the producer is then able to gather information for improvement. This allows the producer to make changes or drop the product before a large amount of work and money are spent without proof that…
CSS Editorial Staff | September 15, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Karakuri
“Karakuri” is a Japanese word that translates to “mechanism” or “machinery.” It involves the use of mechanical devices or gadgetry to accomplish a task, rather than relying on hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric devices. The concept was developed years before computers and electrical motors were invented, so for a long time, Karakuri was an integral method to mechanically…
CSS Editorial Staff | September 14, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Hawthorne Effect
The Hawthorne Effect is a phenomenon that occurs when individuals change or improve their behavior simply because they are aware of being observed. The effect has been a noted factor in a variety of experimental studies, and is thought to be unavoidable in any type of study or experiment that uses humans as subjects. People…
CSS Editorial Staff | September 14, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Marking Floors to Communicate Social Distancing
Marking floors is the most effective way to communicate social distancing. The CDC recommends that workers, visitors, and customers are able to stay six feet apart from each other while they are on your worksite. Floor marking is the best visual reference for people to immediately recognize the appropriate distance from other people. Types of…
CSS Editorial Staff | August 28, 2020 | CSS.com – Infographics
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These chemical compounds exist everywhere and are relatively harmless when occurring naturally. However, man-made VOCs can be much more damaging to human health due to the sheer volume and constant exposure during manufacturing processes. Man-made sources of VOCs are often present in building products, home and personal care products,…
CSS Editorial Staff | August 7, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Introducing the Winner of the 2020 Fall Scholarship
Even in the middle of a pandemic, we are humbled by the amount of submissions we received this year from students of all ages, backgrounds, and career goals. This summer we received more than 1,000 scholarship submissions from students eager to change the world in these uncertain times. It was not an easy task to…
CSS Editorial Staff | August 7, 2020 | Company Updates | Scholarship
Meet Our Spring 2020 Scholarship Winner
Our eighth scholarship competition has come to a close and for another year, we are astounded by the volume of impressive applicants from across the country. Since opening our scholarship competition, we have enjoyed supporting scholars representing a wide range of backgrounds, locations, and ambitions. This year we have had the privilege to read so…
CSS Editorial Staff | May 1, 2020 | Company Updates | Scholarship
World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020
The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work has one focus this year: stopping the pandemic. On April 28, workers and employers are encouraged to consider the current global pandemic and its impact on the world of work. Even in times of crisis, employers have a duty to ensure safe and healthful working…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 24, 2020 | Industry News, Safety Solutions | Health, Healthcare, Social Distancing, Workplace Safety
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Earned value management, or EVM, is a type of project management that is used for measuring the performance and progress of a project in an objective manner. By looking at the scope, time, and costs of a project this system is able to properly evaluate the value of the work being done. One of the main concepts…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Servant Leadership
Servant leadership is a type of leadership philosophy that makes it the goal of everyone in positions of authority to serve those who report to them. This is different than traditional leadership strategies where the leader’s primary goal is to make money or other goals for the company. Of course, when done properly, servant leadership will still…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
In today’s high-tech world just about every company uses various types of software to run their systems. In many cases, customized software solutions are needed. Whenever developing software, there is a software development life cycle (SDLC) that will be present. This is sometimes called an application development lifecycle. Either way, it is a process where developers can…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Quality Assurance (QA)
Quality Assurance (QA) is a method used for identifying mistakes, and getting them addressed, before a product goes out to the customer. When done properly, people who work in quality assurance will also be responsible for finding ways to prevent the mistakes in the first place, and proactively monitoring for defects in the production process. The specific…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
RACI Chart
An RACI chart is a form of a responsibility assignment matrix and is commonly used in project management systems. When using the chart all the different parties associated with a project will be listed across the top, and each step in the project’s lifecycle will be listed down the left side. Where the two intersect in the chart…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary
Gap Analysis
Gap analysis is a concept used in management strategies to compare the difference between the desired performance and the actual performance. Looking specifically at the area between these two levels will help managers to try to find ways to narrow this gap. In many process improvement methodologies, the gap area will be considered a form of waste,…
CSS Editorial Staff | April 10, 2020 | CSS.com - Glossary