The Lost Time Room is a simple idea: give every employee a clear way to share ideas, and make sure every idea gets an answer.
This article examines organizational decision-making and problem-solving in larger companies. Frank Covich describes a consulting project at a 400-person hydraulic manufacturing facility in Ohio struggling with production delays, inventory issues, and excessive downtime.
The solution involved creating the “Lost Time Room,” a dedicated space displaying the names of 27 key managers in a pyramid structure next to the president’s office. The consulting team solicited suggestions from all employees, committing to review every idea regardless of source or hierarchy.
A coordinator assigned each suggestion to relevant managers for implementation, with a critical mandate: if issues required presidential approval, that supervisor’s authority was questionable. This democratized decision-making and empowered mid-level leaders.
Two major improvements emerged organically. An operator noted excessive time walking the floor for cleaning rags, wasting machine productivity. Management simply ensured rags were positioned at each workstation. Similarly, a setup person suggested larger staging tables, reducing trips and enabling longer machine operation cycles without restocking.
Over three months, the company transformed its performance. The approach created employee investment in solutions, developed supervisory confidence in decision-making, and streamlined operations.
Covich recommends new entrepreneurs establish suggestion protocols that publicly acknowledge contributions. He emphasizes that “People love to be appreciated,” advocating praise as reward for quality ideas.
What the Lost Time Room teaches business owners
The Lost Time Room worked because it made problem solving visible. Every suggestion had a named manager responsible for it, and no idea was dismissed because of who offered it. Employees saw their input turn into changes in daily operations, which built trust and commitment to the results.
You can borrow the approach in a business of any size. Create one place where ideas are collected, assign each idea to a single owner, and set a date for a response. Share what you decide, even when the answer is no, so people know that speaking up is worthwhile. Small improvements, like better staging of materials, add up when they are acted on consistently.
Frank’s closing point is worth repeating: people like to be appreciated. Thank the people behind good ideas in public, and your own Lost Time Room, whether it is a literal room, a shared board, or a weekly meeting, will keep producing better ideas.
Related reading
- Business Opportunity Guides: Every SmartBizOpps Article in One Place
- Business Opportunity Marketplace: The Earn From Anywhere Guide
- SCORE free business mentoring
Learn more: Penguin Random House and UC Berkeley.
Keep reading
If this topic is useful to you, these related guides on SmartBizOpps are a good next step.
