When Dr. W. Edwards Deming went to Japan in the early fifties, he found a nation that was largely destroyed. He shared with Japan a vision of management that helped to transform the Country into a world leader. As well as identifying 14 points he also identified 7 Deadly sins.
- Lack of constancy of purpose
- Emphasis on short-term profits
- Evaluation by performance, merit rating, or annual review of performance
- Mobility of management
- Running a company on visible figures alone
- Excessive medical costs
- Excessive costs of warranty, fueled by lawyers who work for contingency fees
“A Lesser Category of Obstacles” includes
- Neglecting long-range planning
- Relying on technology to solve problems
- Seeking examples to follow rather than developing solutions
- Excuses, such as “Our problems are different”
Deming’s advocacy of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, his 14 Points, and Seven Deadly Sins have had a huge influence outside of just manufacturing.