Improving Data Warehouse and Business Information Quality: Methods for Reducing Costs and Increasing Profits

CHAPTER 11

The 14 Points of Information Quality

“You don't have to do this—survival is not compulsory.”

–W. EDWARDS DEMING

The reader is forewarned that the following pages are X-rated. No, this is not the pornographic section; however, the following pages contain material objectionable to managers who have hidden agendas and employees who purposely hoard knowledge to advance themselves and their careers. W. Edwards Deming's ideas have been contrary to many concepts of traditional management education. As a result, Deming's principles did not achieve permanent acceptance in postwar America until the economic crisis of the 1980s when the Japanese quality revolution transformed the economics of doing business.

Deming identifies 14 points of quality for real and permanent quality improvement. These points of quality, which Deming applied to manufacturing quality, apply directly to data as the product of business processes.¹

Deming's 14 Points for Management Transformation

Dr. W. Edwards Deming has provided the basis for transforming management not for quality's sake, but for business survival. “Adoption and action on the 14 Points are a signal that management intends to stay in business and aim to protect investors and jobs.”² These points provide the principles to any business endeavor, large or small, manufacturing or service sector, enterprise or business unit, or organization within an enterprise.

DEMING'S 14 POINTS OF QUALITY³

   1. Create constancy of purpose toward improvement ...