Re: PDSA vs Theory of Knowledge

["John K. Balor" <balor1999@yahoo.com>]

If I were to characterize the Deming/Shewhart quality management methods against other ways (Juran, Crosby, ...), my understanding is the focus on Theory of Knowledge.  While most people (managers, consultants, customers, ...) were interested in results, Deming and Shewhart were interested in theory.  Shewhart wrote an excellent book in 1939 suggesting that Quality Control could make profound contributions to the philosophy of science.
   
  In both "Out of the crisis" and "the new economics" Deming tells stories about the importance and usefulness of theory.  One of the fundamental mistakes of the many Deming followers of the past, I think, was that they tended to see his 14 points as THE TRUTH written in stone.  My understanding is that Deming rather used those 14 points as the basis for an axiomatic theory of management, and he corrected and revised the points all the time, as he made new discoveries and made new insights.
   
  In my opinion, the 14 points are highly problematic.  Juran considered them idiotic, and said that nobody without a name like "Deming" could get away with such rubbish.  It is not that the points are wrong in themselves, but it is what lists like that does to people.  Crosby liked lists like that, and as Deming would say, Crosby didn't know anything about quality.  People like Crosby were a part of the problem, not the solution.  Producing slogans and junk.
   
  John Balor

[Moderator's Note:  John - could you provide citations for the Juran and Crosby quotes above - so that 
we might read their complete comments?  Thanks.  ]