Re: On the DEN's improvement

[Kromkowski@aol.com]

Dear DEN:

Two thoughts follow: the first on the idea of a Deming Theory, see Myron's 
post, the second an approach to the how would we know we are succeeding 
question, see also Frank's post.  Both fall under the generally heading of 
DEN improvement.

1.  Deming Theory.  I have previously outlined an idea of proposed DEN 
collective research, that is:  

If we generally abstract Deming, we may say in general terms that Deming 
proposed:

IF top management adopts certain Values and Understandings of certain 
concepts (Vs, not "versus" but V1, V2 ... Vn)

THEN there will be certain Practices and Methods that will be adopted by 
these top management (Ps)

and as a result the will be allegedly be improvement in Industry, Government 
and Education, which we might know by certain Outcomes (Os)

a.  the DEN should collectively figure out how to and actually identify the 
Vs, Ps, and Os, the Deming suggested.

b.  the DEN should thereafter, propose ways to and actually test the Theory, 
derived from the general abstraction and the identification of Vs, Ps and Os.

2.  We should be administering some type of instrument/test to ourselves  to 
determine

a.  whether we constitute a stable system with respect to our knowledge, 

b. whether we are appropriately centered with respect to that knowledge,

c.  whether we are in need of special help in any particular area

d.  whether any members are in need of special help

Methods and proposals for improvement will follow thereafter as a result of 
what we have found out about ourselves.

Perhaps, something in the nature of  <A 
HREF="http://www.progress.org/banneker/igt/igt.html">http://www.progress.org/b
anneker/igt/igt.html</A> with a different scoring/ conclusion scheme (at the 
end) that is more in keeping with an understanding of variation, might guide 
us?

Doing 1. and having our free-form discussions, in light of 2., would better 
serve the DEN.

Method:

One way to get there, might be for the Moderator to only accept No. 1 type 
posts on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, (send everything else back to posters, 
with an explanation that there post may be submitted at a later date.)  (This 
would also make the Moderator's job somewhat easier.)

To get to No. 2, would require a small committee of between 5 and 7, who have 
sufficient knowledge and web expertise, to put together some type of 
web-adminstrable instrument.  As a _pilot test_, maybe something just on 
Understanding Variation would make the task less daunting to start.

John David Kromkowski Attorney at Law 6600 York Road - Suite 108 Baltimore, 
Maryland   21212-2028 Kromkowski@aol.com Telephone:  (410) 377-6248 
Facsimile:  (410) 372-0624
===========================================================================