"What are we doing here?"

[jbruman@precisiondie.com]

I want to express my most sincere and grateful thanks to all the DENizens who reponded to my earlier post regarding "What are we doing here". I see no point in dragging out this thread to inordinate length, but several responses deserve some comment.
Myron Tribus is and has been one of my most admired authorities for many years. His comments will provide food for thought for some time to come. Along with his questioning why ASQ should be making money on ISO/QS/AS/TL-9000/14000 et.al., I have also questioned how/why they became the de-facto business agents of one specific consulting company as the "official" ASQ dogma (sorry David Kerridge, there's that word again!).
My use of the word "dogma" in my original post was perhaps not well chosen as David points out. It was simply selected and used (misused?) in context with the metaphor of religious zeal we all feel from time to time regarding the SoPK.
And therein lies the crux of the DEN as a facilitator of synergistic learning. I learned much from David's gentle but insightful critique of my usage as a demonstration of a system (the DEN) that refuses to tolerate the fear of making mistakes.
I haven't had the opportunity to examine J. Seddon's approach to "doing ISO" available apparently later this year, nor have I had the opportunity to read his original critique of the ISO process. I can however assure him that I anticipate with great hope a method for the incorporation of profound knowledge into the ISO process. It sounds like just the sort of thing I was talking about in my post. I am sure that Reid Patrick, Peter Templeton, Sean Bowler,and others share that anticipation in our quest for practical examples.
Many respondents commented on the value and effectiveness of the DEN as a learning process. The many responses to my orginal post are a prime example of that effect. Besides the "flattery effect" of having my words prompt comment from some of the world's great thinkers, each and every response held out a truth that will fuel my personal continual learning and improvement in understanding. Hopefully, this discussion has/will provide the same edification for everyone else.
By continual examination, challenge, and gentle correction/improvement of each other's words and logic we can only improve professionally and personally.
Thanks, I needed that.
John A. Bruman
"Still learning after all these years"

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