Re: System vs Individual

[BCoop1116@aol.com]

David, 
 
the actual quote started with Dr. Juran, to the best of my  recollection, 
when he said "85% of the problems were with the system not the  people."  Some 
give credit to Dr. Myron Tribus for statements about these  percentages as well. 
 I made the mistake one time of quoting that number to  Dr. Deming and he 
said to me "that is wrong and I have recalculated  and it is 94%."  Not wanting 
to get the famous Deming stare I moved on the  next question.  
 
It does not matter about the exact number or where it came from or who said  
it, when.  What matters is that one understands that if you focus on the  
people you will never fix what may be wrong with your organization.  You  may 
ultimately have a person/people problem but if you start with people as the  
primary source of your problems in all probability you will most likely be  wrong.  
If Dr. Tribus's statement that "90% of problems are not solved  where they 
first occur", is true then it becomes obvious that maybe just  maybe you start 
to improve the systems first, which is a management  responsibility.  Then if 
you have to move to the people in the hope that  you can find the "guilty 
bastard". 
 
Hopes this helps.  One more quote from DR. Deming might also  help.  "There 
is no true value of anything only estimates."
 
Bill Cooper