Re: Lack of Deming Philosophy in Education

[WyoCheek@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/21/2003 2:16:12 AM Mountain Standard Time, 
rstauffer@bluefirepartners.com writes:
> 
> I think there are a couple of questions bubbling up here...One, why has the
> Deming Philosophy, SoPK, etc.., dropped from the quality literature, both in
> academia and in the mainstream? The other, what about statistical thinking
> and the theory of variation--why don't most academic programs teach that?
> 
DEN
There are assumptions about both environment which should be explored. Is 
Deming really about statistical thinking, or how in part the use of statistical 
tools contribute to the thinking process as information and understand what is 
learned can be applied to making a management prediction? In my interviews 
with educators and in industry often I hear people stat they studied and know 
their Deming. So, I ask one question and wait for their response. 

Here it is: What is the single most important aim of Deming's teaching?      

Anybody care to try?

If it has not been destroyed by accident, Deming answered this while filming 
a "fake" lecture where he asked a "empty classroom" of students, "Why are we 
here?" For a few minutes he acted las if he was listening only to restate 
student attempts to answer. That is, until he pretended to hear the answer he 
wanted. Then he said boldly aloud, "That's right! To................ Give that 
person a gold start!" 

"To have fun" is not the answer.

When I heard this, I knew why educators and industry had gotten off on to the 
Milky Way. It was simply too simple for people to remember everyday. The 
natural following question is "By what method?" 

Still laughing at his genius,

S Cheek DDS