Re: Hillside Yellers

[sopkrules@aol.com]

Alright so let's look into the theory of knowledge.  One of the fundamental elements of theory of knowledge that CI Lewis spoke about was usefulness.  Theoretical pragmatism I believe he called it.  I don't think that selling leadership on the importance of theory is a useful tact.  They don't go for it.  Sure you might get somebody to go, but by and large it is not a useful conversation.  They don't need to be epistemolgists.  
 
We should examine what, in our conversations, about the philosophy is not making a connection to people.  What is not seen by them as useful.  If they were to see some use in the system of profound knowledge then there would be more acceptance, practice and extension.
 
For the most part, the conversation about the system of profound knowledge ends with words and ideas.  There is very little in terms of the how someone might go about "doing it".  Save the control chart and the map of the system, there are little if any methods by which someone may put into the practice the ideas so that is what they stay - great ideas that people often say are just "common sense".
 
Maybe we've not extended the theory in terms of its practical significance to the community we seek to engage.  By what method shall they go about practicing the theories of the business viewed as a system, understanding variation, theory of knowledge and some inkling of psychology?
 
Like Six Sigma or not, what has been provided is a method by which there is a good deal of perceived practical significance.  From the System of Profound Knowledge there is no such practical method.
 
Bob Wilson
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Hall <g.hall@dln.org.uk>
To: DEN <den.list@deming.ces.clemson.edu>
Sent: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 11:41:00 -0000
Subject: Hillside Yellers


An aspect that we may be shying away from is that of "Theory of =
Knowledge"

Quoting Deming he said "knowledge is based on theory" - Douglas McGregor =
considered that " the organisation's theoretical assumptions determine =
its character" -there are plenty of other such quotes.

I was listening to an old BDA tape the other day when Peter Scholtes was =
talking about "The New Leadership Competences" - his comment ( approx) =
was

Without application theory is of no value
Without theory application has no direction - no basis from which we can =
learn

Selling theory is of course difficult - our managers have no concept of =
theory. I attend many presentations on successful projects - and =
regrettably very few, if any, identify their theoretical underpinnings. =
This includes Universities, we would expect them to teach theory - but =
of course do not.

footnote: On the radio in England last week - an admission that the =
school curriculum in England has not changed its basis for the past 150 =
years. =20

Gordon Hall
The Deming Learning Network
Aim: Continual organisational improvement through the application of =
learning
Tel: 00 44 1358 721258
e-mail: g.hall@dln.org.uk
web site: www.dln.org.uk