Experience, Skill Gain Clear Results, Quickly

Our work -- simply -- is to accelerate improvement in very real, measurable ways. We believe there is sufficient knowledge known today for significant improvement. Our challenge and our work is getting more to implement the most effective practices.

Common elements among our projects include definition of aim, measures and facilitation of testing. But we draw on years of experience in change management to tailor the path forward to respond to the unique, specific needs of our client partners.

Our methods can employ strategic planning, breakthrough improvement and collaborative learning models. And the tools we draw on come from a wide range of relevant experience, including facilitation, data analysis, communications, systems analysis down to the nuts and bolts of organizing a conference, publishing papers, or developing a web site and more.

Our work begins with a conversation. We listen. We learn. We help clarify the path forward and move you there. Contact us: (608) 767-2906 or info@rapid-improvement.com

The Principals

Warren C. Gaskill has worked as an independent consultant since 1997 with firms in the media, educational, government and manufacturing fields. His focus has expanded to non-profits working in the environmental improvement arena, seeking to spread their knowledge to many more at a faster pace. The work combines Gaskill's deep knowledge and respect for nature's systems and concern for their status plus his communications and investigative skills honed by over 20 years as an award-winning writer and editor with daily newspapers in Wisconsin, Connecticut and Tennessee. Gaskill served as director of planning and process improvement with Madison Newspapers Inc., and was editor of "The Team Handbook" and "Real People, Real Work."

Formal education includes an MBA in Information and Operations Management from UW-Madison, and a BS in Communications from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Significant influences on Gaskill's approach include: Russell Ackoff (idealized design), W. Edwards Deming (profound  knowledge), Peter Drucker (leadership),Dawna Markova  (communication), Gerry Nadler (breakthrough thinking); Karl-Henrik Robèrt (sustainable growth), and Peter Senge (learning organizations).
 

Kevin Little helps designers improve the ecological integrity of their designs so their designs are better aligned with the rest of Nature's systems. To make effective choices that will improve ecological integrity, the people who design, build, use, and regulate engineered systems need relevant information.  Another firm he founded, Informing Ecological Design, LLC puts this ethic to practice.

Dr. Little's experience, primarily as a consultant to business clients, includes development and implementation of improvement plans (including data-driven detective work to improve process performance); design and implementation of measurement systems; experimental design and analysis; analysis, display and interpretation of multivariate trend data; and development and delivery of workshops and training sessions.  He has worked with executive and front-line teams in both industrial and service firms, ranging in size from start-up to the Fortune 50. 

Dr.Little has a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he uses a range of relevant methods and techniques from industrial engineering. His background in ecology comes from lab investigations and data analysis of constructed ecosystems and volunteer work to restore prairies and savannahs. 

Our Associates

Our work is carried out on many projects in conjunction with a team of proven partners. These include:

Educational Dividends, Champaign, IL: Designer and implementer of our energy educataion programs used in the classrooms.

Franklin Energy Services, Port Washington, WI: Energy services provider for utility related projects.

Fat Spaniel Technolgies, San Jose, CA: Designer and provider of energy renewable and real-time energy use data in our projects with schools and utilities.

Cox & Co, Black Earth, WI: graphic and web design firm involved in many aspects of several projects.

Hiebing, Madison, WI: Program design for our Energy Stewards application.

Matt Peterson, Madison, WI: Our business development and stragic planning partner.

return to top

Why Change?

Our environment is changing today with unprecedented speed. As it does, the factors that govern success in the marketplace also are shifting as the consequences of our collective impact become clear.

Some are making the shift. Some oil companies are investing heavily in development of renewable energy. Some manufacturers are designing their products so they can be fully recycled at the end of their useful life. Some governments are getting more aggressive at regulating sources of pollution. Some consumers are voting their pocketbooks for a growing array of products that minimize lasting damage to the earth.

We are changing. The question is: Can it be done quickly enough to protect essential elements of our environment for the next generation? To investigate further, here are a few links to resources that give data on current environmental trends and provide examples of what some businesses are doing about it.

State of our environment . . .

Worldwatch Institute: Since 1984, Lester Brown and his Washington-based institute have provided authoritative documentation of the evolving economic and environmental problems as well providing solutions to deal with it.

Real Climate : A commentary on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. It provides a quick response to developing stories in a context sometimes missing in mainstream reports.

How businesses are responding . . .

Interface, Inc:Interface, the world's largest commercial carpet manufacturer, and Ray Anderson, its founder and CEO, have played a leading role in defining what it means to be sustainable and putting it into practice. In doing so, Interface has improved its competitive advantage.

U.S. Green Building Council: The leading association in the country that defines methods to construct buildings using a wide range of design methods and materials that reduce impact on the environment.

Environmental Defense: For more than 30 years, Environmental Defense has used innovative approaches where conventional methods have failed. Its Alliance for Environmental Innovation works with companies to improve environmental performance.

The Natural Step: Founded by a Swedish physician, The Natural Step has been a leader in helping many organizations become sustainable in their practices. Its web site includes specific case studies.

return to top