Uncommon Sense - Tools to Improve your Work Forever

If your team isn’t using AI yet, it’s not just their problem. It’s yours. The innovators will dive in fearlessly, while the survivors hold back. Your challenge? Create the conditions for confident experimentation without risking chaos. Join Anthony Richardson in the studio with Susannah Clarke as they explore how leaders can anchor AI adoption in process thinking and turn hesitation into action. Drawing on real examples from PMI’s AI for Leaders programme, Anthony shows how recognising the sp...

Even the best-designed processes can drift over time, but Process Confirmation stops small deviations from becoming major gaps. In this episode, PMI Senior Consultant Damion Albinson explains why Process Confirmation isn’t about auditing but understanding how work really happens. He explores how this approach helps leaders stay connected to operational reality, using the insights to strengthen performance and build capability at every level. From frontline operators to leaders managing impr...

What exactly is the problem? And what isn’t? It sounds simple, but getting clarity here can be the difference between chasing assumptions and finding the real root cause. Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson in the studio with Susannah Clarke as they discuss Is/Is Not, a beautifully simple tool often underused in problem solving. With a practical example involving soggy pizzas, Stuart shows how moving beyond scoping questions can generate powerful clues, test theories, and steer y...

It’s a classic tool. But its reach is far wider than you might think. Join PMI Consultant Des Kelly as he explains what Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) really is, how the 2019 global standard changed the game, and why Process FMEA now belongs in hospitals, call centres, control rooms and corporate functions as much as on the shop floor. If you run, design, or depend on any process (yes, that means you!), you’ll see how FMEA can strengthen performance where it matters most, and sta...

AI is reshaping problem solving. But can it follow the methods you trust? Join PMI Director Consultant Dennis Crommentuijn-Marsh as he shares an improvement-in-action story where conventional thinking reached its limit, and a custom AI agent opened new possibilities. He explains the difference between generic AI tools and tailored agents, how prompt engineering is shaping the future of work, and why this isn’t about replacing expertise, but amplifying it. If you’ve ever wond...

“If I change this… what happens over there?” It’s a familiar question in improvement, and one that correlation helps us explore with rigour and insight. Join PMI Consultant Niall Coney as he breaks down the concept of correlation and its role in uncovering meaningful relationships. Using practical examples, from machine settings to wellbeing initiatives, he explains how correlation and regression support evidence-based decisions, help avoid blind spots and focus improvement where it matters.&...

It’s a deceptively simple question: What is the purpose of this process? An unclear process purpose is one of the most overlooked causes of waste, misaligned priorities, poor decisions, and missed improvement opportunities. Yet too often, teams dive into complex redesign without first agreeing on why the process exists at all. Join PMI Director Consultant Stuart Gibson as he shows how stepping back to define process purpose clearly and collaboratively can uncover hidden value, pre...

The core principle of DoE is elegantly simple: “how does this thing affect that thing?” PMI Consultant Niall Coney explores the value of experimental design and regression analysis: clear thinking, informed decisions, and measurable impact. Whether you’re working on improvement in manufacturing or marketing, operations or organisational change, don’t let the fear of complex statistical calculations hold you back. It’s about asking better questions and digesting the answers. More...