Re: Is SoPK a System?

[Stein <stein.smaaland@sys.no>]

Dear DENizens,                                              Oslo, Sept. 10th, 2005

Long time since I have invested time in learning together with you
now. Sorry for this. I have been (and am) enjoying further
understanding in bringing my practical Deming experiences during
the last 10 years into a kind of perspective through a doctor thesis
on communication (University of Oslo). I have nevertheless noted
the very many "good questions" forwarded by Petter Ogland. Lately
on August 30th;

***
> I wonder if this might be a proper way of understanding SoPK:
>
> 1) Appreciation for a system = the flow of repeatedly making and updating
> flowcharts and systemsdiagrams
> 2) Knowledge about variation = the flow of managing SPC diagrams
> 3) Theory of knowledge = the flow of conducting neverending PDSA-experiments
> 4) Psychology = the flow of continually check whether people are interally
> motivated
***

According to my knowledge so far, I would say some kind of a "yes, and";

I enjoy the action-orientation forwarded through Petters listed methods
and techniques. And I enjoy very much the additional dimension
introduced by the word "flow".

What I do miss is;
a) the holistic nature I feel is present in all of "the four pilars"
b) the holistic interrelations between the four pilars (as i.e. presented
by Al Viswanathan on a Deming fall conference some years ago,
possibly in 2002)

***
> What is the difference between an ISO 9001:2000 quality management system
> and a SoPK?  From my point of view there seems to be essentially no
> difference at all.  Is this common knowledge among DEN people, or am I
> missing something here?
***

As some of you might remember (being hopeful); I have (in addition to
Deming and EFQM) some ISO9000-background, i.e. from Scandinavia,
Middle-East (especially Saudi-Arabia), Singapore and Mauritius, and
have through this ONE KIND of an understanding of the above question.

And I actually agree with Petter that "there seems to be essentially
no difference at all". Both are a human-produced system developed
to assist human organizations in achieving better quality.

I also think (and feel) there are some fundamental differences, however,
which becomes salient if we reflect on the purpose, aim, vision and
mission statements of the organizations behind the two systems and
if we are aware of and reflect on the specter of effects of implementing/
adopting/living the two systems.

My very best
Deming Scandinavia
Stein Smaaland
(stein.smaaland@deming.no)
*** Continuously learning,
trying to make a difference,
having fun in the process ****