Many talk about reducing variation to improve quality. Does that include human variation, where everyone takes a different approach to improving overall improvement processes? What would happen if this variation were reduced?

Would some of you lean folks be interested in spearheading an effort to standardize how the “implementation of improvement” is actually implemented? Lean and nonlean practitioners would no doubt thank you effusively. (I can hear you all: “Davis, what planet are you on?”)

Nah, probably not a good idea. But could we all agree that a useful initial strategy might be to address the routine organizational use of data?

Consider: By reducing daily variations in how routine data are used, we’d find that less tampering (i.e., treating common cause as special) helps boost the credibility of more formal efforts, regardless of the approach. Think how much that liberated time and reduced chaos would increase your effectiveness.

One of W. Edwards Deming’s quotes made a lasting impression on me when I first heard it more than 30 years ago: “A good organization will take five years to turn around. Most will take 10.”

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