For years there's been something hidden in Deming's closet. Well, not hidden exactly, it's actually one of his published "Seven Deadly Diseases of Western Management". Problem is, it takes us a little way outside our comfort zone where all things can be measured, and hence predicted, controlled and managed. So we don't like talking about it too much. It can indeed be seen, to pinch someone else's catchphrase, as Deming's inconvenient truth. But what is it?   more »

Quality management gurus come and go and everyone has their own personal favourite. But there is one guru that has stood out head and shoulders above all others. A quality professional whose acute understanding of business dynamics, human motivation, customer behaviour, economics and, most crucially, how this all fits together, has resulted in a body of work that remains undiminished by half a century of the most incredible change. So whenever we find ourselves drawn into an “ISO 9001 Section 5” debate, we could do worse than to pause and to think “what would Deming say?”   more »

There's a very good contribution today on John Hunter's blog Curious Cat on this topic. Details inside   more »

Not all "quality people" understand human motivation, or human dynamics at all if we're honest. Deming had strong views on the role that people and their motivation play on the efficiency of working systems   more »

Following on from our first post in the series "Deming on the 8 Quality Management Principles" where we looked at leadership, in this post we take on the system   more »

In this post we attempt to add some context and depth to our favourite quality management principle, leadership, using the words of the master. What better way?   more »

In this article we recall a chance encounter with a professional gambler who gave a candid insight into the realities of his profession. We always knew that there was a profound management lesson in there somewhere and, today, the penny has dropped. The story actually helps us make sense of one of Deming's most fundamental lessons   more »

At the risk of upsetting a load of engineers who think that they actually are innovators, here's a post that suggests it goes against the grain   more »

Scott Hassler offers this excellent summary of key principles culled from the book "Four Days with Dr Deming". It's a great summary, so if you're not a "cover to cover" type, read on   more »