Causes Quote by W. Edwards Deming
“Management by results is confusing special causes with common causes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Out of the Crisis by W. Edwards Deming, 1982
Confusing special causes with common causes leads to ineffective management by results.
In simple terms: Mixing rare and routine problems hurts performance.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish rare from routine issues.
Themes
quality management
statistics
process improvement
Mood
analytical
critical
educational
Type
advice
instructional
When to use this quote
- manufacturing
- service operations
- continuous improvement
- performance measurement
Key Concepts
Statistical process control
variation analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you tell if a problem is a special cause?
- What tools help separate variation types?
A Different Perspective
Rare causes need different analysis than common causes.
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