W. Edwards Deming’s ideas about leadership, systems, variation, and psychology continue to shape how organizations pursue quality and improvement. This archive brings together blog posts, podcasts, and reflections exploring Deming’s teachings—and how they apply to Lean, healthcare, management, and continuous improvement today. Many of these posts challenge common misinterpretations of Deming’s work, emphasizing that quality cannot be delegated and that improvement starts with leadership.
I stumbled across these notes I had taken about 8 or 9 years ago based on a video lecture from Dr. Deming: W. Edwards Deming – The Role of a People ManagerLecture Notes 8/13/1990 A manager and his people understand…
I have a very special guest today… it’s a very spur of the moment podcast with L.A. mayoral candidate, David “Zuma Dogg” Saltsburg. This went from email, to phone call, to podcast all in a few hours. He is running…
L.A. Voters For Change: Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate David Saltsburg (Zuma Dogg) Answers Questions For Daily News I won’t pretend to understand Los Angeles politics (or much anything about L.A.). But, through an automated Google alert, I stumbled across a…
Not Jack Handey’s “Deep Thoughts” … more like Larry King’s old USA Today column… it’s Lean Thoughts for Feb 12, 2009… the byproduct of a three-hour drive and too much time listening to cable news on XM… Hello, caller from…
Browse Posters – George Marshall Foundation I love old WWII Posters, particularly the production posters aimed at helping the war effort. As much as Dr. Deming said to not rely on signs, posters, and slogans, I just find these signs…
Why Incentives Are Effective, Irresistible, and Almost Certain to Backfire | Fast Company Just about when I start thinking “Is Fast Company magazine relevant anymore, should I renew my subscription?”, a gem like this appears. It’s a very old lesson,…
TRANSCRIPT: Obama’s Inaugural Address: I guess this is a “mashup” of sorts… between Dr. W. Edwards Deming and President Obama… The President said yesterday, in his inauguration speech: “We will … wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and…
My guest for LeanBlog Podcast #57 is Alfie Kohn, an author and lecturer in the fields of education, parenting, and human behavior. His books include Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes…
I recall reading Dr. Deming talking about how people should be able to enjoy their work. I know for certain I've heard Norman Bodek talk about it in speeches and my podcasts. Norman loves to ask why people never say "Thank God It's Monday!!!!!"
Pay for Grades? – Springfield, IL – The State Journal-Register Flying in and out of Chicago, I’ve been reading over the past few months about the Chicago Public Schools paying high school freshman and sophomores for their grades: “…some Chicago…
LeanBlog Podcast Episode #53 is a conversation with Patrick M. Anderson, the Executive Director of Chugachmiut, the Tribal consortium created to promote self-determination to the seven Native communities of the Chugach Region. I met Patrick at a Lean conference, where…
Singletary dropped pants at halftime – SF Gate Funny story here about new 49ers coach, Mike Singletary, during halftime of his first game. When his team hit the Candlestick Park locker room at halftime trailing the Seahawks 20-3, Singletary called…
