Re: What are we doing here?

[Myron Tribus <mtribus@home.com>]

John Bruman's post deserves a response.  He summarizes a vexing 
problem for all of us.

His advice is to "join 'em" and working from within, help them to see 
the light.  He also suggests we quit pointing out what is wrong with 
what they do, for, after all, not EVERYTHING they are doing is wrong.

There is much to be said for his advice and much truth in what he 
says.  But it is only a part of the story.

There is a law in economics called "Gresham's Law".  Briefly stated: 
"Bad money drives out the good."  When new issues of coins are 
minted, people tend to hold onto them and circulate the older, less 
attractive coins.  So in the marketplace, the bad coins circulate.

Something like that happens with ideas.  If an idea is presented 
which will take some effort to implement, especially if it calls for 
an effort to change a mind set, then if some other idea is presented 
which does not call for this change, the less demanding idea will 
generally drive out the more demanding one.  This is a natural human 
reaction and we should not expect otherwise.

The result is that the marketplace is flooded with the less demanding 
approach and those who would present something more solidly based 
have great difficulty finding a place in this market.

The problem is exacerbated when people can make a good living out of 
the less demanding idea and promote it vigorously.  They find a ready 
market.  Their activity makes it much more difficult for people with 
the more demanding approach.  The ASQ, for example, now derives 
considerable revenue from the sale of ISO etc., etc.  I do not know 
how to convince the leadership at ASQ to cease and desist.

As others have pointed out, (especially John Seddon) the less 
demanding approach does not work.  I think that there is value in 
having a list of examples so that when we try to argue with someone 
who is thinking of taking the less demanding approach, we shall have 
some specifics to present.

So, my advice is a little different.

Yes, try to help the people who are using ISO, etc., without a 
genuine understanding of what is involved in quality. Show them 
useful tools.  But at the same time, do not just sit idly by while 
being driven from the marketplace by advertising and marketing. 
Collect data and share it with the rest of us.

Myron Tribus,  350 Britto Terrace,  Fremont, CA 94539
Ph:510 651 3641  Fax: 510 656 9875   e-mail: mtribus@home.com
Always choose words that are soft and sweet.  You never know when you 
might have to eat them.

[Moderator's Side Note:  In a very related note, John Seddon has developed
a set of "If you need to do ISO - here is a better way to approach it.  
Quoting from his newsletter:
"For people who feel they have no
choice, our advice is use the Vanguard Standards; they will do you least
harm and, moreover, will ensure that you can manage for improvement. The
Vanguard Standards will also help you argue with your assessor about how
you have interpreted ISO 9000 for your business.

The Vanguard Standards are the ONLY resource providing a systems thinking
interpretation of ISO 9000 and will be available FREE OF CHARGE."

Check his web site later this year at: http://www.lean-service.com
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