Chicago, IL – It’s a fascinating question; how can a team of young men with an average age of just twenty-five operate a $1 billion Navy Nuclear Submarine; a machine that could be the catalyst for disaster with just one tiny error? The answer boils down to the U.S. Navy’s seventy-year model of operational excellence or, as senior Submarine Officers Matt Digeronimo and Bob Koonce call it, “submarine culture”.
It’s a culture built on the foundational principles of knowledge, integrity, engagement, formality, and a questioning attitude. But these traits are not reserved solely for the military. In their compelling new book, Digeronimo and Koonce show how they can apply to any organization so they can thrive like they never knew possible.
Synopsis of ‘Extreme Operational Excellence: Applying the Us Nuclear Submarine Culture to Your Organization’:
THE NAVY'S SILENT WARRIORS LIVE AND BREATHE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. How does a group of 130 men with an average age of 25 operate a nuclear power plant in the ocean's harshest environments while conducting complex clandestine operations aboard a 6900-ton warship with nearly flawless results? The answer lies in the community's culture which epitomizes the tireless pursuit of Operational Excellence. Applying the US Nuclear Submarine Culture to Your Organization Operational Excellence is a journey, not a destination. Let Matt and Bob give you a tour of the Navy's Silent Warriors' commitment to this journey that began nearly seven decades ago. DISCOVER: How to create a culture of intellectual integrity and the pursuit of knowledge. How to engage employees through procedural compliance and standards. How to foster an environment that fully leverages the talent of each individual. How to strengthen an organization by thoroughly evaluating mistakes. How to lead an organization to Operational Excellence from any starting point.
“Even though $160 trillion is spent nationwide on leadership training each year, most of it fails to find application in the workplace and eventually fizzles out into nothing, with zero ROI,” explains DiGeronimo. “Leadership challenges undoubtedly stem from the fact that organizations are composed of systems, not people – and these systems are often incongruent. We’re trying to show how the U.S. Navy has found boundless success with its submarine culture, and help businesses and organizations across all industries implement it. The results they’ll see will blow them away.”
Continuing, “It’s a guide to leadership at its most extreme level, stemming from a place where life and death can literally be decided by the flick of a switch. However big your organization and no matter what you do day-to-day, submarine culture will transform your practices, people and profits.”
The book has been received with critical acclaim. For example, Patrick J. Meyers comments, “This book would be helpful to any operations manager, but for those in the energy industry it may be particularly helpful. As an executive in the energy industry, I have frequently worked with and for, former nuclear submariners. This book allowed me to better understand their thought processes, and I have already applied some of the lessons learned in my professional life. Many thanks to the authors for their service to our country and for writing this book.”
Paul A. Barter adds, “The authors create a usable vocabulary to build a culture of excellence: civilian or military. I have already introduced terms from the book, like "have a questioning attitude" and "watch team backup," into my company. They help you account for human error and provide essential tools to equip even unseasoned managers with a framework for success. Almost all commercial enterprises could benefit greatly from more brutal honesty, accountability and respect throughout the chain of command. The book explains the serious nature of operating a nuclear power plant within a submarine, uses life and death examples and a reveals a spirit of unrivaled teamwork. Complex terminology and particular Navy terms are quickly explained. It kept me engaged and interested to learn. A quick read and future reference as a go-to manual with many points of entry. Also includes a deep dive on root cause analysis.”
‘Extreme Operational Excellence: Applying the Us Nuclear Submarine Culture to Your Organization’, from Outskirts Press, is available now: http://amzn.to/2dWDp4Q.