Five Lessons for System DesignImproving the collaboration process
Wed, 11/13/2013 - 14:11
I just finished participating in a delightful design charrette. I’m sharing this with you because design can be a very powerful tool in the Six Sigma arsenal, and this little charrette both reminded me of and taught me a few important lessons about… Try Telling the TruthIt’s simple but not easy
Wed, 11/06/2013 - 16:57
Story update 12/06/2013: Wow did we mess up. When this story originally published we, the editors, introduced an error into the story regarding the Alaskan oil spill (which the author hadn't mentioned in his original) and didn't realize it. When… Results, Processes, and SystemsInsights from quality gurus
Tue, 07/09/2013 - 11:39
I recently ran across a great quote in Quality Progress by Govind Ramu of SunPower Corp. He wrote, “Processes without results are useless, and results without processes are unsustainable.” (“Experts and Answers,” Quality Progress, December, 2012).… Strength Through Compassion and ConnectionWe need to begin to see other human beings as part of “us” not “them”
Thu, 06/13/2013 - 13:18
At the invitation of our friend and colleague, Margaret (Meg) Wheatley, my wife, Carole, and I just returned from a conference called “Resilience: Strength Through Compassion and Connection.” I want to share some thoughts about the conference theme… We Are the Ones…Leadership is more than a position
Wed, 05/15/2013 - 08:52
Well, she’s done it again. Our generous friend and colleague, Margaret (Meg) Wheatley kicked off this year’s Chair Academy Conference in Phoenix. The beginning of her message remains dark, but the light at the end is a little clearer and brighter… Transformation Through ConversationThere is no power greater than a community that discovers what it cares about
Tue, 04/09/2013 - 16:28
When I realized that this year’s Chair Academy International Leadership Conference would focus on sustainability through leadership, I immodestly thought I had something to offer. The folks at the Chair Academy apparently agreed. I argued that if… The Useful Dimension of BeautyAppreciating perfection inspires us to be creative and reach for the unattainable
Wed, 03/13/2013 - 10:01
As I was waiting to talk to my wife, Carole, about some inconsequential topic a few days ago, I noticed an attractive coffee-table book, titled China: People, Places, and Paradox. It was written and produced by our daughter, Lisa, as a photo… Find the Good…Embrace and appreciate a diverse workforce
Tue, 02/12/2013 - 16:54
The day I wrote this column, Jan. 21, 2013, the second presidential inauguration of Barack Obama took place. A presidential inauguration is a celebration of America and what it stands for. In the news coverage, someone quoted American author Alex… Unions, Management, and Other PeopleIf all managers were good at their jobs, there would be no need for unions
Wed, 01/16/2013 - 10:13
Editor’s note: In the current, sometimes heated, discussion about the relevance of unions, David Schwinn takes a look at their role and the responsibilities of both union members and managers.
A few weeks ago, I found myself in a gridlock on a four-… Six Sigma and More: Show Your StrengthWho are we to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Tue, 12/11/2012 - 11:32
Ron Behrens, an old friend and colleague, recently replied to my invitation to share examples of the intelligent use of statistics, such as that used in our Six Sigma projects. I asked for stories, some data, and some statistical analyses. With his…
