Lack of Deming Philosophy in Education

[jr1crow <jr1crow@mindspring.com>]

Hello Group:

It seems to me that this discussion has settled more into a discussion of what is a system and can you understand a system without understanding the system in which it operates, and can you begin a change process or a defined system without understanding how it is affected by the larger system in which it operates.

I believe that it is essential that you understand the system in which you are operating to be effective and that this understanding should be incorporated in the aim of the system.

Since my background is aviation and the airline industry let me use this to illustrate my point.  I would define the aim of and airline as follows:  To provide safe, dependable, scheduled air transportation to the public at a profit.  This aim incorporated an awareness of the larger system in which it operates in the following ways.

1.  The product must be safe for the public to use.  In the early days of air transportation there was a fear of flying.  "If man had been ment to fly God would have given him wings."  Great lengths were gone to to assure the public of the safety of air transportation.  We have recently had this reemphsised by the events of 9/11.  The air transportation industry is still feeling the effects, and the government and the industry have gone to great lengths to assure the public that flying is safe.

2. The product must be dependable.  Flights must leave and arrive on schedule.  The public must be able to rely on the dependability of the service.  Without this people will not use the service.  Dependability will at times be in conflict with safety.  Which will rule?  Safety.  It does no good for the flight to leave on time if it does not arrive at its destination.  Thus efforts by the government and the industry are focused on making flying more dependable and safe at the same time.  The two are interdependent if the industry is to succeed.
3. Scheduled air transportation.  This says the we are in the business of providing air transportation, not bus or train and that our flights will depart on a regular schedule, not come to the airport and mabe we will have a flight leaving sometime today that will get you to you destination.  The public must be able to rely on its ability to predict that if it comes to the airport today and has a reservation for a scheduled flight that flight will leave and arrive on schedule and that the public can do the same thing next week and next year.
4. At a profit.  Our economic system demands a profit.  Our investors are seeking a return on their investment, and our employees are looking for stable, long term employment.  Take away the profit and all of the above are threatened.

I would contend that this simple aim is sufficient of base a company on.  It acknowledges the existance of the larger system and understands that it must meet the requrements of the larger system if it is to be successful.  Ignoring the existance of the larger system is a sure road to disaster.  This aim defines the kind of business we are in and what must be done to be successful.  Deming also says that at times it may be necessary to expand the system to work more effectively, and that the larger the system with which you are working the more that can be accomplished, but as the system expands the work becomes much more difficult.

Since this discussion began with education let me say that today education is being impacted by the larger system in many ways, most of which are driven by ignorance of systems thinking and how these new rules and regulations are hindering, rather than helping the education process.  Perhaps we need an aim for education.  Would anyone care to take a stab at it?