Re: Our finite Realities

["Jerry Mairani" <quality1@inreach.com>]

I find Jim's post on realities very intriguing and agree it is worth (IMHO)
quite a lot of discussion.  While not nearly as versed in Deming philosophy
as some on the DEN, having only one four day under my belt, some reading and
some formal instruction from a Dr, Lassard (Texas), I try hard, and with
great difficulty, to ground my consulting practice in Deming Philosophy.
However, the Senior Leaders of the larger organizations I serve rarely are
willing to spend the time to learn a little about, much less study Deming.
My only opportunity then becomes "folding" Dr. Deming's teaching inside
other more "in vogue" business applications such as Baldrige, measurement
systems, and the like.

This bothers me greatly for several reasons.  I believe a "world class"
management system MUST be grounded in several things, one of which is
Deming.  I believe anyone benefits from Deming understanding, not only at
work, but also in their personal lives.  In addition, I believe that an
organization well grounded in Deming has a higher probability of serving its
employees, community, stakeholders and customers better than one that is
not.

My observation is that in the late 80's and early 90's Senior Leaders were
interested in Deming and his teachings.  As we have moved into what I call,
"an era of management sophistication without foundation," there seems to be
little interest in Dr. Deming.  Check the box management has blurred the
perceived need for true understanding of Dr. Deming.  Baldrige, Balance
Score Card, Six Sigma, Reengineering, and Benchmarking, to name a few, are
now what Senior Leaders think will win the day.  Don't get me wrong, these
have a place, but my experience tells me they have a far greater chance of
success when introduced on a solid foundation of Dr. Deming.

I don't know how to crack the code of resistance to learning about Dr.
Deming as foundational to improving business management.  To get Senior
Leaders reinterested in Dr. Deming's teachings.  As such, any such
discussion will be read with intense interest.

Jerry Mairani
Advantage Management Consulting
quality1@inreach.com
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