Don,
Lloyd S. Nelson...Deming...is there a connections there? But probably not with the Jedi Knight. I believe Deming probably didn't have too much time to read sci-fi novels (busy writing books and papers'n' such) and I heard he watched TV only once (to watch Man walk on the Moon) so he probably did see Star Wars on HBO. All the same, that quote is quite appropriate too.
Thanks for the good words and the leads on the books. Being a book-worm to some degree, I like good book referrals.
Cultural change. A topic in itself. What I would give to have the magic wand on that! It isn't that I am impatient, it just would make the work easier and more enjoyable. Watching and organization trying to adopt an ISO culture was like putting baby shoes on elephant feet! Tough work at first.
What I have found to be a great asset in cultural change, from a middle management perspective, was to hold informal meetings with associates to discuss cultural issues (smaller groups). This environment placed associates on even ground and made it easier to ask "dumb" questions. I had more success here than with a larger audience (more conservative questioning for fear of asking the "dumb" question). I believe it will be easier to develop and ISO environment than it will be for a TQM environment. The basics of ISO can be pushed from the middle, TQM must come from the top. It will be interesting to me to read the first suggested reading to see how the author accomplishes this.
I am fortunate to a large degree that most of senior management here is not a problem in this area. But I still have a hold out or two to still convince. Once they're aboard...well, we'll see.
Back to the group.
Lloyd S. Nelson...Deming...is there a connections there? But probably not with the Jedi Knight. I believe Deming probably didn't have too much time to read sci-fi novels (busy writing books and papers'n' such) and I heard he watched TV only once (to watch Man walk on the Moon) so he probably did see Star Wars on HBO. All the same, that quote is quite appropriate too.
Thanks for the good words and the leads on the books. Being a book-worm to some degree, I like good book referrals.
Cultural change. A topic in itself. What I would give to have the magic wand on that! It isn't that I am impatient, it just would make the work easier and more enjoyable. Watching and organization trying to adopt an ISO culture was like putting baby shoes on elephant feet! Tough work at first.
What I have found to be a great asset in cultural change, from a middle management perspective, was to hold informal meetings with associates to discuss cultural issues (smaller groups). This environment placed associates on even ground and made it easier to ask "dumb" questions. I had more success here than with a larger audience (more conservative questioning for fear of asking the "dumb" question). I believe it will be easier to develop and ISO environment than it will be for a TQM environment. The basics of ISO can be pushed from the middle, TQM must come from the top. It will be interesting to me to read the first suggested reading to see how the author accomplishes this.
I am fortunate to a large degree that most of senior management here is not a problem in this area. But I still have a hold out or two to still convince. Once they're aboard...well, we'll see.
Back to the group.