Category Archives: Complexity

How to Run Any Organization – From the “Both…And…” Mind

I wrote this in 2011. Dear FB popped it up as a memory from a 2020 post. Needed now as much as ever… Now, as much or more than ever. How to run government (or any org)… .. think deeply … Continue reading

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On Science, Truth, Rational Cognition, And Facebook

My response to a post on science, truth, the biases and issues with Facebook, and more: On science, and truth- I view science as a method of inquiry, learning, and the application of that knowledge. It is a dynamic and … Continue reading

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A New Day for the Global Voice of Quality

It has been a while since I explored the world of those committed to improving “quality.” My own work at the U.S. Department of Labor was focused on this for nearly 15 years. The quality improvement movement grew from the … Continue reading

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Negentropic: The 2d Law of Thermodynamics and Sustaining Improvement Efforts

ASQ has “graduated” me to the status of a “Voices of Influence Alumni” blogger.  Hopefully my advanced studies in Blogology have helped me, and those reading this blog 🙂 Recently, in his monthly “View From the Q,” ASQ Executive Paul … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptive Capacity, ASQ, Change, Complexity, Continuous Process Improvement, Innovation, Leadership, Quality | 2 Comments

“Moneyball Government” – Evidence and Trials in the “Court” of the Organization

In the past year, several ideas have dominated the discourse on improving government.  A couple of months ago, the President called for improving the management and results of government.  A recent OMB Memorandum, M-13-17, specifically calls for “evidence based management” … Continue reading

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Line ’em Up & Knock ’em Down: Leadership & the “Domino Dynamic”

Recently I was reading some stuff about leadership.  The writer was suggesting that leaders should aim at having things so well aligned, so well defined, that every action had the desired and intended consequences.  If only it were that simple! … Continue reading

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Us vs. Them: Leading for the Org, or for the People?

The following is a comment I wrote in response to someone’s notion that in leadership, you might WANT to put “people first,” but that you really have to put the goals of the organization first. So… First, there is a … Continue reading

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Drama, Dysfunction, Leadership and Culture: Build the Way Forward, Together

My response to a post on a well-known blog about leadership, dealing with “drama” and the various forms of interpersonal dysfunction in an organization. The writer cites a CEO he knows, who claims he refuses to spend his time trying … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptive Capacity, Change, Complexity, Dialogue, Innovation, Networks | 1 Comment

Turrell, Guggenheim, Wright, and Wrong.

My family and I love the unique art of James Turrell.  When I learned that the Guggenheim museum in Manhattan was participating in a national retrospective of Turrell’s work, and featuring a new site-specific transformational piece, I went online and … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptive Capacity, Change, Community, Complexity, Continuous Process Improvement, Creativity, Quality, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Quality in Government: Answers, Questions, and the “AS IF…” to “BOTH…AND…” Challenge

Hi again, to all interested in process and organizational improvement.  After a personal leave from the blogosphere, I am back with my fellow ASQ “Voices of Influence.”  In this post, I am playing a bit of “catch-up.”  This post responds … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptive Capacity, ASQ, Change, Complexity, Continuous Process Improvement, Government Improvement, Quality | 1 Comment