Operational Awareness: The Missing Layer in Modern Organizations
A framework for connecting knowledge, execution, performance, learning, and optimization—reducing the distance between operational reality and decision-making.
SUMMIT 5SCONSULTING, LLCDiscuss a challenge
Practical perspectives on leadership, operational excellence, organizational capability, and sustainable performance—grounded in more than 35 years of operating experience.
This collection includes revised 2026 editions and new perspectives published in May and June 2026.
PUBLISHED PERSPECTIVES
Articles
Frameworks and observations for leaders working through complex operating and organizational questions.
01
PUBLISHED JUNE 2026
Read on LinkedIn 02REVISED 2026 EDITION
Read on LinkedIn 03Operational Excellence: A Scorecard for Long-Term Business Success
A disciplined scorecard that connects product and workplace safety, culture, quality, customer experience, and value delivery to sustainable business success.
REVISED 2026 EDITION
Read on LinkedIn 04Vicious Circle or Virtuous Cycle: Two Sides of Operational Leadership Behavior
How everyday leadership behavior either reinforces operating dysfunction—or creates the clarity, trust, and accountability that improve performance.
PUBLISHED MAY 2026
Read on LinkedIn 05Rethinking the 9-Box Matrix: A Data-Informed Approach to Talent, Performance, and Compensation
A practical framework for bringing stronger evidence, sharper distinctions, and better decision-making to talent reviews, succession, and compensation.
REVISED 2026 EDITION
Read on LinkedIn 06Process Stability & Capability: The ‘Forgotten’ Constraints Holding Back Process Improvement
A case for establishing predictable, capable processes before expecting Lean, automation, or other improvement initiatives to deliver lasting value.
FOOD SAFETY MAGAZINE · APRIL 2019
Read at Food Safety Magazine Food Safety = Culture Science + Social Science + Food Science
Co-authored by Mike Bartikoski, this article examines how food science, organizational culture, and social cognitive science work together to strengthen food safety performance.
PODCASTS, INTERVIEWS & CONVERSATIONS
Listen and watch
Conversations about operating leadership, profitable growth, capability, and the systems that turn strategy into results.
Real Leadership: Mike Bartikoski, COO
A conversation about servant leadership, supply-chain disruption, production efficiency, technology, and building skilled teams.
Listen to the episodeA Conversation with Mike Bartikoski
A Baking & Snack conversation on leadership, operating priorities, and the evolving demands facing food manufacturing organizations.
Watch the conversationWhy Complexity Kills Margin: An Operational Blueprint for Scalable EBITDA
A Future Makers discussion about growth, margin erosion, operational complexity, innovation drag, and the discipline required to scale profitably.
Watch the episodeTop Operational Improvements to Build a More Successful Company
An expert COO conversation on productivity, revenue, operating systems, process discipline, and the interpersonal side of leadership.
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