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 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…
Get Rid of the Performance Review! – WSJ.com ($$) A UCLA professor, Samuel A. Culbert, has written a monumental commentary in the Wall Street Journal. The subheadline says it all succinctly,with “It” being the annual performance review…. It destroys morale,…
Top Small Workplaces 2008 – WSJ.com Today’s WSJ was well worth the $2.00. Yes, I subscribe to the online Journal, but there’s something nice about reading the regular print version while traveling. Maybe I should just buy a Kindle as…
Retailers Reprogram Workers In Efficiency Push – WSJ.com This is more of a Deming philosophy article than a “Lean article” since the retailer in question here doesn’t say they’re using Lean…. which is good, since the situation described in the…
Business World – WSJ.com — How to Save Detroit And $50 Billion: The Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. column “Business World” in the WSJ is normally a good read. Last week, he wrote about the proposed bailouts (um, assistance) that automakers…
Robert Heller: Why don’t we hang bad admirals of industry? | Business | The Observer I don’t think the columnist is literally suggesting hanging CEO’s… but his point is a good one, that the “carrot & stick” management philosophy is…
TL;DR: When leaders impose arbitrary targets without improving the underlying system, people will find ways to hit the number without helping the patient. The problem isn’t the people — it’s the design. I’m here in the UK for work, and…
You might remember my podcast with Mike Micklewright, “What Would Deming Say?“ Here is a free video clip of his “An Evening with Dr. Deming” presentation. You can buy the full DVD by clicking here.
Earlier leanblog.org post and comment Last week, I posted about Deming’s 14 points and I got an interesting question from a blog reader, Brian: I found # 10 confounding: “Eliminate slogans, exhortations and targets.” Slogans are sometimes used to communicate…
