RE: Deming on systems thinking

["Prevette, Steven S" <Steven_S_Prevette@rl.gov>]

Question asked: I'm trying to facilitate change in a large organsation,
so I am consequently looking for ways of changing how people think in
order to fascilitate the use of SQC as applied within the Deming
paradigme.  If I have understood Deming correctly, he means quality
improvement has to be viewed as a religion in order to get management to
take responsibility.  Is New Age Philosophy a proper "religion" for the
purpose of confusing people into a state where they will accept Deming's
message?

A very similar discussion has been taking place in the American Society
for Quality discussion boards.  This is in the public area, so you don't
have to be an ASQ member to get here.  See

http://www.asq.org/discussionBoards/thread.jspa?threadID=1460&tstart=0

And

http://www.asq.org/discussionBoards/thread.jspa?threadID=1534&tstart=0

I've posted a few thoughts on both discussions.  For me, I don't see it
as a "religion" but more of a way of thinking.  I like using the "lens"
analogy, but that may have come from many years of sitting in an
optometrist's chair with him/her continually asking - which is sharper,
lens A or lens B?


Steve Prevette
Occupational Safety and Health
Fluor Hanford, A Fluor Government Group Project
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
steven_s_prevette@rl.gov
509-373-9371