posted 29 March 1999 11:58 AM               

Subject:Influence of Demings "Out of Crisis" From: Marino Montani - Thu Mar 18 3:25:25 US/Central 1999
It is claimed that American economy is now in very good health and that the crisis is over. What is the influence and impact of Dr. Deming's "Out of the crisis" and his 14 points on the present very good condition of American economy? Do his ideas changed the attitudes of managers and helped to change the organisational cultures? Are there any empirical data or at least opinions or experiences.

Marino Montani, Slovenia

Back to the group...

posted 30 March 1999 11:21 AM               

quote:

---

·and that the crisis is over.

---

Really? I wonder?

There are many companies that use the Deming Management Method with great success. There are also just as many who do not. During times of economic good fortune, many managers tend to get spoiled, resting on their laurels and enjoying the good times. They tend to get lax.

But, economies are cyclic. Things will turn down, and the Îcrisisâ will again be upon us. When? Who knows. But when it does happen, Demingâs readings will just as significant as they were during the original Îcrisis.â

quote:

---

Do his ideas changed the attitudes of managers and helped to change the organisational cultures?

---

Absolutely! But only when used as a whole, rather than a sum of parts. Organizations will select a portion of OOTC or TNE and apply it with vigor. But the result is, more often that not, no improvement. Why? Because they are linear thinkers. They fail to realize that Deming (I believe) saw items as Îsystemsâ rather than Îsingular.â His 14 points are a system, a whole, if you will. Trying to apply any one or a subgroup will not work. The same goes for OOTC. Any single chapter or subgroup of chapters are useless. It is also a system, and must be applied as such.

Short term results must never be confused with long term goals.

Just the ramblings of an Old Wizard Warrior.

Regards,
Don

------------------
Check Out dWizard's Lair *** Dead Link Removed ***

posted 30 March 1999 01:09 PM               

Agreed. Holistic thinking must be applied.

The crisis is not over, at least in my opinion. As you pointed out, different economic times can create the appearance that the crisis is over. But time challenges everything. Vanity in the USA seems to get the best of us often. I hope that we do not rely on our laurels, a hazardous proposition at best.

I was struck with the thought that folks outside of the USA really feel this way. Could it be? Well I am not sure who has made this claim, but I claim otherwise.

"Demingâs readings will be just as significant as they were during the original Îcrisis.â " Perhaps more so, if we are to learn anything from our past mistakes.

posted 30 March 1999 02:47 PM               

quote:

---

I was struck with the thought that folks outside of the USA really feel this way.

---

Yea, that is what I meant by 'disturbing.'

Regards,
Don

------------------
Check Out dWizard's Lair *** Dead Link Removed ***

posted 30 March 1999 02:59 PM               

I agree 100% Economics are indeed cyclic....and so now we are riding the crest at this point, but this too shall pass....

I have a copy of the 14 Points pinned to my wall, just above this computer.....as I sit here typing, I am reading the list....I am sure that each and every one of us can cite a personal example of violation of at least one of the points, if not more, (and indeed all..) In fact, I see (and have seen ) examples of them almost daily.

I have a personal copy of "Out of the Crisis", which was given to me by the man that gave me my start in management, (damn him and bless his soul, all at the same time...) Shortly after that, his employment was terminated by the powers that be.(he was, at the time, Number 3 man in the organization)...

I have read that book with vigor many many times since then, and always seem to glean something more each time I read it.

Is the crisis over? Hardly......As long as the Taylor mentality exists, we will be in crisis.....this may be a bit exaggerated, but the basic premise is valid....

The crisis is over??? WIshful thinking..the diseases are as prevalent today as they have ever been..we are merely being blinded by large quarterly profits....

Thoughts anyone.......?

Bryon

posted 30 March 1999 06:26 PM               

I've got my copy of the 14 Points in a small laminent (sp) resting on my computer. What's that saying: Sick minds think alike (hahaha)!

You are right on the point that oragnizations make money in spite of themselves. Blind to the troubles within. I worked for a 1.286 billion dollar organization which had trouble paying their bills in the end and were taken over. How could that happen? Simple. Management forgot that they actually had to manage so when the bottom dropped out of the market, they would stay at the top. Several large loans, several layoffs, and the buy out, they are still on top. Wonder if they think that the Crisis is over? The management morons there probably think so, but come on!!! Same record, just keeps skipping! The only way they will realize their folly, when the whole structure finally collapses on itself. Hasn't happened overnight, but the mighty empire that once was is now a sinking ship with many scared rats!

The poor soul who got you on the path, you are right. A mixed blessing. But hang in there. We may be several miles apart, but there are a few of us out here trying to bring our organizations out of our crisis.

Don,

Disturbing? And how!!

posted 31 March 1999 10:26 AM               

Frustrating is the word on the homefront. Here, I dig and ask questions getting the right words, but actions do not line up. I guess I realize that it's not an overnight process, old habits are hard to change. Especially coming off three record years in a row. I'm asked how did we do so well? We must be doing something right managment says. Still trying to get them to show me some measures, besides the bottomline.

Big picture,it is disturbing. Are we (USA) being successful in presenting a facade to the rest of the world. Just hope we don't fool ourselves. Things do not always look so rosy from the inside. The whole attitude of "we've arrived" is suspect.

posted 31 March 1999 12:17 PM               

quote:

---

As long as the Taylor mentality exists, we will be in crisis.....this may be a bit exaggerated, but the basic premise is valid...

---

It is a bit widespread, eh? Seriously, the reason why: That is what modern managers were, and still are, taught. A bit exaggerated? Not at all. Perhaps understated would be more in order.

quote:

---

·the diseases are as prevalent today as they have ever been.

---

Agreed. And as long as they are, the Crisis will never be over.

quote:

---

You are right on the point that organizations make money in spite of themselves. Blind to the troubles within.

---

Blind is correct. Many organizations see a profit and think all is well. Rubbish. That is precisely why the Crisis will never be over. In times of economic good, that is precisely the time to improve, while you have the capitol and manpower to do it. Wait for the bad times, and improvement projects become harder to sell to the higher-ups and more costly to implement. Sadly, mine is a lonely (not alone, thankfully) voice in the wilderness.

quote:

---

I always thought that it was "great minds think alike.ä

---

I am not sure I would include myself in that. :>)

quote:

---

We must be doing something right management says.

---

Typical linear thinkers. They see the profit, but not the waste. How much more profit could the organization make is their COQ was reduced from 25% of sales to 15% or lower? ãThere is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.ä Peter F. Drucker

quote:

---

Still trying to get them to show me some measures

---

Try showing them! At one organization, the MRB was a joke. They dispositioned the nonconforming product, but kept no records of the costs or the other impacts (remanufacture to replace, cost of collection and salvage, etc.). After one particularly frustrating session, I began collecting, rather that disposition the product. After a six week collection, I counted and recorded the costs (for six weeks, the cost of JUST the nonconforming product was in excess of $75,000!). The next meeting, I showed up late, literally dumped the contents of the box on the shiny conference table (we were a component manufacturer, so there was a LOT in that box), presented the cost impact report and left. I told them I would attend MRB meetings when they were serious about it. That got the message across.

quote:

---

Just hope we don't fool ourselves.

---

Too late. American organizations are already fooled into a false euphoria. As far as getting them to listen, I have only one more thing to add:

ãWhoâs more foolish. The fool, or the one who follows him?ä Obi Wan ãBenä Kenobi, Jedi Knight

Regards,
Don

------------------
Check Out dWizard's Lair *** Dead Link Removed ***

posted 31 March 1999 02:49 PM               

Hang in there! Don's suggestion is a good one. Show them. To steal a line "Make the invisible, visible." Management in your organization needs to step out of the "euphoria", take the blinders off, and make some good decisions. I guess it could be argued that we are wrong and they are right, I mean after all, they made profit! Three record years to boot! But what measurables are shared with management to coroborate senior management claims? The bottom line? Making statements without quantifiable measures is purely guess work. We would all like to think we make great decisions everyday. I would. Reality though, so long as you know your place in this world, is that you are probably right as often as you are wrong. So how could we collectively believe that we are so right, and in fact are? I think what leads me to believe that we are correct in our perspective is because of its objectivity and that it is constantly evolving. While statements are shared here and often delivered as "a matter of fact" is because there is underlying understanding of both sides of the story, and continued learning. Stating "We must be doing things right. Just look at the past three years!" which is based solely on the bottom line and not how you got there is a "matter of opinion" only. Don's words, "Rubbish." I agree. Opinion is always subjective.

crisis - 1 the turning point of a disease for better or worse, 2 a decisive or crucial time, stage, or event.

Both definitions are appropriate here I feel.

Marshal Thurber showed me something (perhaps he got this from Deming himself) about the word EMERGENCY. Within that word is the word EMERGE.

emerge - 2 to become visible or apparent, 3 to evolve. Again, very appropriate.

He spoke to the point of organizations emerging through emergency, specifically FORD. Only when the mighty empire was in danger of being demolished did management take action. Better for an organization, especially an organization with three record years of profit, to emerge without emergency unlike FORD. Funny thing; Ford's senior management was the stereo typical Western Management zoo. 80's purists through and through. They went to Deming, Deming did not go to them. In fact, when they sought his expertise, they sent the Number 2 or 3 man in the organization. He asked, "Are you number one?" "No." replied number 2 or 3. Deming's response, "I'll speak to number one." He sent number 2/3 back and told him to bring the message "I'll speak to number one only." FORDs CEO soon followed. Result: FORD is arguably the best Domestic automobile manufacturer (certainly in the late 80's and early 90's). Soon GM and Chrysler were knocking on Deming's door. Interesting I think.

So what about the caretakers (the one's who believe that the old rules still apply, ie Taylorists)? They are the ones who will look back at the past performance, as if that is an indicator of future performance. Rubbish, rubbish, more rubbish (I am working on not swearing)! You will need great patience, but you will need to lead them out of the darkness. Hurt feelings abound. People do not accept that they are wrong well, I don't anyway. But I am improving on that as well (remaining objective). The crisis is never over. It just changes shape. That's all.

posted 01 April 1999 09:46 AM               

I hadn't heard that story yet either. Still, I can hear his voice uttering the words "No problem - no agreement." Classic! Thanks for posting that.