RE: Stirring things up

["Vic Forte" <vic@vicf.com>]

> I guess what can be learned from this is that even figures as august as
> Joseph Juran and W. Edwards Deming are/were human and given to the same
> jealousies, blind spots, and frailties that we all are, us humans.

I agree with John Dowd. We are all human. Humans are not perfect. People who
are not perfect may be criticised and would do well to listen and seek to
learn during their lifetimes. I am sure that Dr. Deming tried to do this. I
never met him, but do not believe that he was an arrogant person.

Does it matter that Dr Deming never managed anything ?

Are we ourselves capable of managing anything ?

What would help us to learn how to manage something ?

Perhaps a good theory and a system that would enable us to test it well.

Where would we go to find this good theory and system for ourselves ?

What are the qualities required of someone who might help us ?

Perhaps having been a manager oneself, and having attempted to put theory
into practice might be one of these qualities. But Dr Deming spent a lot of
his life helping others and observing good and bad practice. He was great
enough to be able to draw certain conclusions, and organise those
conclusions. It's up to us how we use them.

Nobody said it would be easy.

Nothing is guaranteed.