cqen.list Weekly Digest Subject: Re: FW: The use of targets with performance measures Subject: Re: SCHOOLS ---------------------------------------- Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Fri, 16 Feb 1996 17:58:47 -0500 From: mtribus@hooked.net (Myron Tribus) Subject: Re: FW: The use of targets with performance measures This is one of the rare cases when it might appear that David Kerrige and I are not in agreement. I do believe, however, that the question of setting targets needs to be discussed further. David wrote: >One of the problems with setting targets is that you can only set >targets in terms of things that can be measured. But according to >W Edwards Deming, "The most important figures in any business are >unmeasured and unmeasurable". and then went on to give examples from University research and policing which made his point very well. But a group or a person may set targets FOR THEMSELVES and then set about trying to realize them. INMHO there is nothing wrong with that. It is when Mr. X sets targets for the accomplishments of Ms.Y that setting of targets is a bad idea. Motorola, for example, set for itself the six sigma target. Then everyone went to work to try to realize it. The target was not used to drive people but rather it set a sense of priority. Unless the target is related to customer satisfaction, it is probably ill advise. Myron Tribus 350 Britto Terrace Fremont, CA 94539 Phone:(510) 651 3641 FAX: (510) 656 9875 e-mail: mtribus@hooked.net Nobody knows what we could do with education because we have never really tried. (Hutchins, President, University of Chicago in the 1930's) ---------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Feb 1996 03:52:48 -0500 From: John Zavacki Subject: Re: SCHOOLS Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit David Mason wrote: > > < public school people were involved in the beginning, including some going > along on a group trip to a Deming four day seminar. > I see problems with getting quality initiatives going in the school system > and having this critical part of the community involved actively in the > community quality initiatives. Any ideas on how to help break educators out > of those brick buildings and into collaborative community efforts?>> > *********************************** > cbrooks@luminet.net > Craig Brooks The major effort we've had to make in Northeastern Pennsylvania was to ask. Although the schoolboards and administrators are often reluctant, you can sometimes make breakthroughs with councilling folks and teachers or paret groups. Although these first steps aren't full blown initiatives, they are kernels of quality systems thinking which can eventually flower. It only takes one leader to start the effort. -- jzavacki@epix.net John Zavacki The Wolff Group 900 James Avenue Scranton, PA 18510 Phone: 717-346-1218 Fax: 717-346-1388 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- End of Digest Provided by Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University Comments to list@eng.clemson.edu