Re: Lack of Deming Philosophy in Education

[John <jsdwd@ispwest.com>]

On 10/1/03 11:31 PM, "Myron Tribus" <mtribus@earthlink.net> wrote:


> 
> Deming was very strong on the use of slogans.  When he said "Drive
> out fear", I took it as a shorthand for saying, "Don't try to rule by
> fear. Don't artificially introduce fear into the workplace by putting
> in competition or pitting one person against another.   Try to
> understand what your employees are afraid of and, insofar as you are
> the agent causing it, desist."

Interestingly, the first fear Deming talks about after his slogan is fear of
losing one's job.  Many people think that in 'Drive out Fear' Deming was
addressing his remarks toward the autocratic boss, but his concern was much
broader than that.  Certainly he was not one to encourage unfair managers,
but he was addressing the fears associated with being in business in the
future and the possibility of job less more pointedly.

Certainly our history of 'downsizing' and the damage of plundered pensions
has shown that fear to be well based.

> 
> "Drink deeply or drink not from the Pyerian Spring
> For a little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
> 

My friend Dr. Lloyd Nelson extended this quote once in a proposed book
review (I don't know that he included his observation in the final published
version) by saying:

"It has been said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.  This is
particularly true when the knowledge is wrong."

John Dowd
jsdwd@ispwest.com