Christina Dragonetti

The Golden Gate Bridge in the fog with a single pelican flying over.

The Joy and Irony of a Leadership Career

By Christina Dragonetti / July 31, 2023 / 5 Comments

In this guest post, Dr. Doug Stilwell reflects on his long career in education and shares the impact of Dr. Deming’s teachings on his work.

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Dr. Deming in his 80s, standing with his back to the audience writing on a green chalkboard. He is wearing a blue sports coat, has a bald head, and wears glasses.

A Beginner’s Guide to Control Charts

By Christina Dragonetti / June 15, 2023 / 1 Comment

The Deming philosophy is like an onion: it’s got layers. I’ve been studying the System of Profound Knowledge and all it entails for almost 2 years, and I’m at layer 4 or 5, I think. I love the aspects I understand and how my thinking has changed. Plus, I’m constantly learning new things that shift […]

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Old telephones in several colors lined up horizontally.

If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now

By Christina Dragonetti / May 31, 2023 / 1 Comment

(Guest post from Edward Martin Baker) As we get older, more experienced, and maybe wiser, some of us may reflect on what we could have done differently when we were younger – if we knew then what we know now. I have recently been reflecting on my teaching of introductory statistics when I was a graduate school teaching fellow in the distant past.

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Large red industrial fishing ship sinking from the back of the boat with the front end sticking up in the air.

Best Efforts on a Sinking Ship

By Christina Dragonetti / April 24, 2023 / 2 Comments

In this guest post by Ruthie Russo, she uses the metaphor of bailing out a sinking ship to show how traditional improvement efforts in education are missing the big picture – and harming students and teachers in the process.

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Kevin Goes to the Tugboat Evergreen Conference

By Christina Dragonetti / March 15, 2023 / 0 Comments

Last year, our Executive Director Kevin Cahill spoke at the Tugboat Institute’s Evergreen Conference where he discussed his grandfather’s philosophy, his impact on the world, and how modern businesses can grow and thrive by putting people first.

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Looking through a lens that has a clear/crisp image of a dirt road leading into the distance, surrounded by a blurry image of the landscape photo beyond the lens.

Taking Deming into the 21st Century – and Beyond

By Christina Dragonetti / February 1, 2023 / 0 Comments

Introducing a unique new way to learn Deming online! DemingNEXT offers exclusive courses designed by Deming and adult learning experts.

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Various charts hung on a white board.

The Insanity of Extrinsic Motivation

By Christina Dragonetti / January 20, 2023 / 1 Comment

In this post, Doug Stilwell shares the story of his friend’s annual sales competition and asks: Is everyone motivated to work harder if they might win a trip to Hawaii? Does the competition result in more overall sales for the company?

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Close up of a white woman's face with her mascara smeared to the sides of her eyes, holding a white piece of paper in front of her with a line drawing of a smiley mouth. The effect is a woman who is very unhappy but faking a smile for others.

Quiet Quitting From a Deming Perspective

By Christina Dragonetti / December 15, 2022 / 0 Comments

The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” (also called “employee disengagement”) is frustrating leaders and managers across industries. But looking at the problem through the Deming lens means finding workable solutions that can strengthen relationships.

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Several orange starfish on a rocky beach.

The Starfish and the System

By Christina Dragonetti / November 30, 2022 / 9 Comments

In this guest post, Dr. Doug Stilwell looks at The Starfish Story of a humble hero through the Deming lens, and sees how, by understanding the System of Profound Knowledge, we can achieve a much greater impact.

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Dr. Deming holding a bouquet of flowers shaking hands with factory workers in Japan.

W. Edwards Deming is Not a Method or Program

By Christina Dragonetti / September 6, 2022 / 2 Comments

In this guest post, Ed Baker describes how the Deming philosophy is a unique and all-encompassing way of thinking. Unlike TQM, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and other programs promoted to improve quality and productivity, Deming is not simply a checklist, program, or set of methods for managers.

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