RE: Am I on the Right Track?

["Ivan Webb" <Ivan.Webb@bigpond.com>]

Perhaps this is another perspective on variation:

Quality is related to the satisfaction of the needs, hopes... of the
recipients. I have found it useful to think about reducing variation in two
ways depending on our methods and/or intentions: consistency and uniformity.
Either way, reducing variation in the processes involved lead to better
quality.

If the results of our particular endeavours are intended to be the same
(identical) and our inputs are the same then it is useful to think in terms
of uniformity and aim to provide uniform products or services through
uniform processes.  This may lead to market segmentation which then allows
for differences between products to be managed in this fashion while
reducing the variation in particular products.

The publishing and distribution of the school newsletter should be the same
for all students and their families: every family should get one and
newsletter should have all pages, clearly printed and they should be
delivered on time.... (this is a matter of uniformity).

However if our endeavours are intended to meet the particular needs and
circumstances of a wide range of recipients then it may be useful to think
in terms of consistency, especially when the processes are dealing with many
special causes associated with some recipients as in schooling (or health or
...):

In the process of learning in a class, different different students will
bring different prior knowledge and experiences (not uniform content).
However the same students can all make contributions based on their prior
learning and experience and thus help make the class a richer learning
experience for all (consistency of participation and contribution).

Similarly educational equity may require variation in the provision made for
particular students in order to achieve equitable (consistent) outcomes for
all. This would be one of the measures of a high quality education system.

Nb.  Remember that the aim of special education is to reduce the need for
special education (so that students can be successful in ordinary everyday
situations).

Sadly some education systems exclude certain students thus reducing the
variation in the learning needs of the students (inputs).  This enables the
schools to operate uniform processes and produce 'uniformly high' results
often so that they can then claim that they have 'high standards'.


Ivan Webb