Claire,
You are right measures are not everything and often we should act because
it is right. Rich however comes from an organization that is heavily into
measuring the right results for the right reasons. The use SPC extensively
around Harley at all levels and place high expectations on individual
responsibility. But they measure everything form turnaround time to how
close to center the grinder holds the dimensions.
While the do that they evaluate venders baaed on collective manger and
line assembler opinions of vender performance.
I believe Rich places Senge as natural subset to Deming. Deming
organizations are the ones Senge studied to decide learning is important.
Deming used actual prices results to promote learning.
Harley started on the journey to a better company without knowing how it
was done or how to do it and they did it because it was right but part of
right is measuring the right things and judging the right things.
Gene
At 09:43 AM 10/19/98 EDT, you wrote:
>Two or three years ago, I read an article where Rich Teerlink of Harley
>Davidson said that he believed in the learning organization because it was
>the right way to go. When asked whether he had proof of its effects, he
>said that he didn't need proof and hard measurements. He saw evidence of
>it, not proof, and that was enough for him.
Eugene Taurman
interLinx ilx@execpc.com http://www.execpc.com/~ilx
What you are is determined by the thoughts that dominate your mind.
Paraphrase of Proverbs Ch 23 vs 7 KJV
--Eugene Taurman <ilx@execpc.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>