Author Archives: John Hunter

Design of Experiments: The Process of Discovery is Iterative

Posted on July 30, 2013 by John Hunter

This video is another excerpt on the design of experiments videos by George Box, see previous posts: Introduction to Fractional Factorial Designed Experiments and The Art of Discovery. This video looks at learning about experimental design using paper helicopters (the … Continue reading →

Posted in Design of Experiments, Management, Process improvement, Quality tools, Statistics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Your Online Presence and Social Networks for Managers

Posted on July 17, 2013 by John Hunter

This month Paul Borawski asked ASQ’s Influential Voices which

Posted in Career | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Management Improvement Carnival #197

Posted on July 15, 2013 by John Hunter

Mark Graban is hosting the 197th edition of the Management Improvement Carnival on his Lean Blog, highlights include: Michel Baudin’s Blog – “The Toyota Way 2001: the Necronomicon of Lean“: Michel wrote a great post about reflections on the internal … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival

Stated Versus Revealed Preference

Posted on July 9, 2013 by John Hunter

My father provided me a good example of the flawed thinking of relying on stated preference when I was growing up. Stated preference is, as you might deduce, the preferences voiced by customers when you ask. This is certainly useful … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer focus, Popular, Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Curious Cat Management Improvement Carnival #196

Posted on July 1, 2013 by John Hunter

The Curious Cat Management Improvement Carnival is published twice each month. The posts selected for the carnival focus on the areas of management improvement I have focused on in the Curious Cat Management Improvement Guide since 1996: Deming, lean thinking, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival

What is the Explanation Going to be if This Attempt Fails?

Posted on June 25, 2013 by John Hunter

Occasionally during my career I have been surprised by new insights. One of the things I found remarkable was how quickly I thought up a new explanation for what could have caused a problem when the previously expressed explanation was … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Innovation, Management, Process improvement, quote, Software Development, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Getting Known Good Ideas Adopted

Posted on June 19, 2013 by John Hunter

This month Paul Borawski asked ASQ’s Influential Voices to explore two questions; first, what is the most important challenge the quality community faces in ensuring that the value of quality is fully realized for the benefit of society? I really … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Process improvement | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog Carnival #195

Posted on June 15, 2013 by John Hunter

The Curious Cat management blog carnival has been published since 2006. New posts are published twice a month. I also publish a collection management improvement articles on the Curious Cat management improvement articles site. If you develop people results will … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnival | 1 Comment

Experience Teaches Nothing Without Theory

Posted on June 11, 2013 by John Hunter

Experience teaches nothing. In fact there is no experience to record without theory… Without theory there is no learning… And that is their downfall. People copy examples and then they wonder what is the trouble. They look at examples and … Continue reading →

Posted in Deming, Psychology, quote | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Leadership and Management

Posted on June 4, 2013 by John Hunter

I don’t think the attempts to separate leadership and management are useful. I read plenty of things that are variations on Peter Drucker’s: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” A manager that is not concerned … Continue reading →

Posted in Lean thinking, Management, quote, Systems thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments