Tools and Tactics for Operations Managers (Collection)

14. Systems Thinking and Process Engineering

Basis of Systems Thinking

Although he may not have actually coined the term, W. Edwards Deming is widely considered the progenitor of Total Quality Management (TQM). He is often remembered for his famous 14 Key Principles on which TQM is based. However, often overlooked by typical business books and business leaders—for reasons I can only guess—are what form the basis of these 14 points: his System of Profound Knowledge, or often called Theory of Profound Knowledge. While his System/Theory of Profound Knowledge includes only four parts, they’re a bit more abstract and, frankly, harder to grasp. Perhaps that’s why many people skip them. They are

1. Appreciation of a system—Understanding the overall ...