Test Change to be Sure It's Really Working

When you implement a significant change in your workplace, you need to test its effectiveness. To do that, ask the same questions after implementation that you did before: What problem are you trying to solve? What's the impact on how you do your work? Look for evidence that the problem has disappeared, or at least improved: Things are getting done faster, errors are down, and so on. If you're not getting the results you hoped for, don't be afraid to start over. Sticking with change that's not working will only increase your inefficiency - and cynicism within your workforce.

Source: "Managing people: Your most difficult, most rewarding task, Part II," by G.A. Marken on the Water & Waste Digest Web site.