The Danger of Doing Nothing
The Danger of Doing Nothing
Measure the hidden cost of allowing problems to persist
- Publication:
- Quality Progress
- Date:
- October 2026
- Issue:
- Volume 59 Issue 10
- Pages:
- pp. 12-17
- Author(s):
- Sherman, Peter J.
- Organization(s):
- Riverwood Associates LLC, Atlanta, GA
Abstract
The cost of doing nothing (CODN) measures the hidden cost of allowing problems to persist, helping leaders quickly identify which issues warrant deeper analysis. CODN reframes waste into annualized financial terms that align with how executives think—the language of money—closing the gap between front-line observations and CFO-ready numbers. The author shares a practical way to identify waste in real time and convert observations into meaningful financial insights—often in just a few minutes.