Succeeding with Quality is like succeeding with a Diet - an analogy

[Tim Folkerts]

It struck me recently that Quality and Dieting have a lot in common. So much in fact, that I think that the dieting analogy is a powerful way to explain quality in a way that is non-threatening and understandable. Now it seems that just about every time I check in at the Cove I find another thread where this analogy fits.

They are both about improvement and health and eliminating bad habits.

Here's a draft of a paper expanding on this idea. Comments are welcome...

Tim F

[Claes Gefvenberg]

In Reply to Parent Post by Tim Folkerts

Here's a draft of a paper expanding on this idea. Comments are welcome...

Good but somewhat depressing analogy: I don't know which fails more often: Quality or Dieting?

/Claes

[Howard Atkins]

Does this mean that if you employ staff in the quality area they must be of the correct figure.
If so I am out

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by Tim Folkerts

It struck me recently that Quality and Dieting have a lot in common. So much in fact, that I think that the dieting analogy is a powerful way to explain quality in a way that is non-threatening and understandable. Now it seems that just about every time I check in at the Cove I find another thread where this analogy fits.

They are both about improvement and health and eliminating bad habits.

Here's a draft of a paper expanding on this idea. Comments are welcome...

Tim F

Nicely done, Tim. It's a little ironic that the further up the food chain you go, the more likely you are to encounter "fat" people, and the more likely you are to hear them asking everyone else to lose weight.

[Wes Bucey]

In Reply to Parent Post by Jim Wynne

Nicely done, Tim. It's a little ironic that the further up the food chain you go, the more likely you are to encounter "fat" people, and the more likely you are to hear them asking everyone else to lose weight.

Clever continuation of the metaphor, Jim!

Yep, Tim, I thought you were very insightful in this paper.

[morgand - 2006]

If you want either dieting or quality to succeed, you have to be ready, in the right mindset and committed to the actions being taken.

So- I think the analogy is spot on

[Bill Ryan - 2007]

Good job Tim - I enjoyed reading it

[Tim Folkerts]

In Reply to Parent Post by Jim Wynne

Nicely done, Tim. It's a little ironic that the further up the food chain you go, the more likely you are to encounter "fat" people, and the more likely you are to hear them asking everyone else to lose weight.

I have a feeling that if we tried, we could expand the metaphor considerably, and I like your contribution. Your analogy is like the brain blaming the mouth for eating too much and blaming the legs for not running enough! After all, the brain never got fat - just the rest of the body!

In Reply to Parent Post by Wes Bucey

Yep, Tim, I thought you were very insightful in this paper.

Now I just need to find someone who wants to pay me for being so insightful.


As I think about it, there might be a book worth writing based on this idea. I bet each section could be turned into a chapter. Perhaps add a few case studies and examples. Before you know it, maybe I could get paid for being so insightful.


Tim F