Guest post by John Hunter, author of the Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog (since 2004).
This is the seventh post in our Deming on Management series. This series provides resources for those interested in learning more about particular topics related to W. Edwards Deming’s ideas. View our previous Deming on Management posts, including: Leadership, Appreciation for a System and the PDSA Cycle.
Joy in work is likely not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of W. Edwards Deming’s ideas on management. But this concept is as important as any of the others. Statistical tools are critical to help understand and evaluate continual improvement efforts. And Dr. Deming also emphasized the importance of managing with the appreciation for the humanity and psychology of those working in the organization.
Only by creating a management system that supports and respects people working in that system can an organization reach its potential.
Blog posts
- Create a System That Lets People Take Pride in Their Work
- The greatest waste in America is failure to use the ability of people
- Build an Environment Where Intrinsic Motivation Flourishes
- When We Understand Our Work and We are Given the Ability to Improve It – We Will
- Respect People by Creating a Climate for Joy in Work
- Dr. Deming’s Ideas in Action: Trader Joe’s Culture
- It isn’t joy in work; joy is the work
- We are Here to Have Fun, to Learn, and To Make a Difference
Webcasts
- How Does Joy in Work Advance Quality and Safety?
- You’ve Got to Find What You Love, Steve Jobs’ commencement address at Stanford
- Finding Joy In Learning: Applying Deming’s Theory to Schools
- Joy by Derek Feeley and Trissa Torres
- Creating joy in work is the only way to save the NHS
Articles
- Managing Our Way to Economic Success: Two Untapped Resources by William G. Hunter
- Dr. Deming’s Joy at Work, Happiness & the High Performance Organization by Lawrence M. Miller
- The Case for Joy in the Workplace
Podcasts
- Podcast with Kelly Allan on Dr. Deming and Peter Scholtes
- From Chaos to Process at Fitness Matters
- Ed Baker, “The Symphony of Profound Knowledge”
- Restoring Joy and Meaning to Learning
Resources
Books