CLICK HERE to request a free copy of the preface and chapter summary of my book…
DATA SANITY: A Quantum Leap to Unprecedented Results
"I rarely, if ever, write to authors telling them how good (or great) I think their book is, but I had to tell you that I am reading your book “Data Sanity” and I think it is one of the best quality related publications out there. Although I do not work in medicine (I working as a lead in quality (amongst other things) for a large child welfare organization), so far I have found many helpful (and confirmatory) pieces to your book. I guess it also helps that it appears we have a similar mindset when it comes to approaches organizational quality! Noticed your website and the references to music – maybe that’s the connection – my first degree is in music! Thank you!"
Senior Manager
Quality
Organizational
Improvement & Research
“The success of a quality effort depends solely and completely upon how thoroughly top management commits itself. It hinges upon the tremendous difference between asking others to change, and imposing changes upon the person in the mirror.”
There are three common mistakes change agents make in work cultures loaded with hidden “land mines,” which is virtually all of them. Read more…
McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994, 289 pages, ISBN 0-07-032715-7
“How the evolution of management and the revolution in quality are converging, and what it means for business and the nation.”
We’ve heard them all: total quality management (TQM), continuous improvement, reengineering, visionary leadership, and now various manifestations of Six Sigma. What are the basic principles that underlie and unify these seemingly diverse approaches? In this book, Brian Joiner provides a coherent and concise synthesis of the best ideas being implemented today and the most promising ones taking shape for tomorrow. The key elements are a dedication to quality as defined by the customer, a scientific approach to rapid learning, and the creation of team-spirited relationships both within and beyond our organizations. Joiner has managed to translate and expand upon the theory of W. Edwards Deming to apply to everyday work. It is crucial for all employees to understand customer needs, have a deeper understanding of variation to manage effectively, create an environment that supports and drives rapid learning for rapid improvement, become obsessed with identifying and eliminating waste, and view the organization as a system. Read more…
This book was a labor of love. I tried to take a realistic, honest, straightforward, conversational approach (with “Italian passion”) to quality (Demingslant) with the emphasis on statistical THINKING (not techniques) as the “anchor” for a healthy quality effort (Not only special “projects,” but hidden opportunities in EVERYDAY work)–for use in the REAL WORLD.
The key emphasis is looking at ALL work as a process and understanding variation. This also includes the process of how data in general are used in organizations and the resulting rampant unintended damage (and “crazy-making”) caused by inappropriate reactions to variation. Eight common statistical “traps” are exposed to help you transition to a philosophy of “Data ‘Sanity.'” Sorry, folks, but did you know that whether or not you understand statistics, you are already using statistics? The good news: You can forget practically everything you’ve learned in the required “Statistics from Hell 101” course (and you probably already have!). Oh,and by all means, please hand a copy of this book to your managers. It’s for them, too! Read more…
