I’m often reminded of what the late Peter Scholtes would write or say (often repeated by W. Edwards Deming), where he basically said there are three things that can happen when there’s pressure to meet a goal or target: Distort…
TL;DR: Being right isn’t enough to lead change. This story highlights why trust, respect, and how ideas are communicated matter more than facts alone when you’re trying to influence people and improve systems. Being Right Isn’t the Same as Being…
I’m not a Buffalo Bills fan (a.k.a. “The Bills Mafia”), but I did attend one game at what was then called Rich Stadium in 1998 when I was a grad school intern at Kodak. Even without being a fan, I…
The average NFL score is around 44-46 total points per game — but that number hasn’t always been stable. Has scoring truly surged, or are fans reacting to short-term noise? TL;DR: NFL scoring trends reveal a real system shift–not just…
TL;DR: During the COVID-19 shutdown, most MLB teams cut minor leaguers to save money. A few teams didn’t — and that decision became a competitive advantage. This post shows how “respect for people,” a core Lean principle, can outperform short-term…
TL;DR: A single-season drop in NFL field goal accuracy does not automatically mean kickers are “regressing.” Using Process Behavior Charts shows whether the change is meaningful or just normal variation–and why year-to-year overreaction often misses the real story. The Claim:…
tl;dr: Headlines about baseball trends–like Bryce Harper’s performance, game length, or declining attendance–can be misleading. Using Process Behavior Charts, we can distinguish between meaningful signals and routine noise. This post shows how to apply that thinking to baseball metrics, with…
tl;dr: ESPN’s quick change to a confusing MNF scoreboard graphic shows how fast feedback and responsiveness can turn a misstep into a learning moment. Real-world PDSA doesn’t require perfection–just the willingness to study, adjust, and improve quickly. Whether in sports…
tl;dr: Headlines say Tom Brady is declining because a few stats have dropped, but Process Behavior Charts show his performance is still within routine variation over his career. Without a true signal, reacting to short-term “trends” is misleading–in sports and…
TL;DR: Home runs in MLB haven’t just “gone up”–the data shows a real system shift, not random year-to-year variation. Process Behavior Charts help separate signal from noise, revealing when it’s worth investigating what truly changed instead of overreacting to single-season…
TL;DR: Early baseball teams experimented with position-specific uniforms, quickly learned it created confusion, and abandoned the idea. It’s a classic example of Plan-Do-Study-Adjust–small tests, fast learning, and no stubborn attachment to a bad idea. As someone who grew up as…
Here is an interesting article that a few people pointed me toward the other day about the Seattle Mariners team: Mariners Sunday mailbag: Explaining the Japanese origin of the team’s new slogan “Manager Scott Servais does have a mantra each…
