Conference Speaker Profile - Gordon Hall  
 
Gordon Hall

Biography: Gordon is the Chief Executive of The Deming Learning Network, a not for profit membership organisation in Aberdeen (Scotland) . The Network is committed to W Edwards Deming's vision of starting us "on the road to knowledge, and create a yearning for more knowledge." It has over the years run a whole range of activities including a CEO club and groups looking at safety, psychology, systems and SPC. The DLN provides training courses as well as services through those members who are consultants. It aims to work closely with In2:IN, The Deming Forum in England, and all other Deming activities around the world.

The significant event in Gordon's personal journey was his attendance at Dr W. Edwards Deming four day seminar in 1990 and having the opportunity to attend Dr Deming's 'Ashridge' study weekend in 1991. Following that weekend three attendees, Prof (emeritus) David Kerridge, Dr Tony Miller and Gordon formed the Aberdeen (Scotland) enclave of the world-wide Deming community. They, with their colleagues, have been studying the implications of Deming's teaching ever since.

At this point in time The Network is acutely aware that while there is extensive knowledge available to individuals and organisations, little is actually applied within our organisations and communities no matter how well that knowledge is presented. It is a challenge that surely faces us all.

Presentation Title:
Can We Build an Organisation’s Culture by Design?

Abstract: We build community out of crisis and we build community by accident, but we do not know how to build a community by design"
Scott Peck (Author of The Road Less Traveled)
 
In context of a community, an organisational culture or even a society, what do we need to know if we are to build it by design? - what disciplines will we require? What are the obstacles? Is it possible for participants rather than leaders to take responsibility for mapping the way forward?
 
Society we would define as individuals plus the connections between individuals, i.e. society's systems. Can an electorate take responsibility for the design of the systems that characterize its society? In Scotland (UK) we are addressing such a challenge under the banner of "creating a learning society". The ultimate aim is to design a society that is continually moving forward without any one individual having to know all that much. (This was Adam Smith's vision in his book "The Wealth of Nations" published in 1776 approx) This is an extraordinary ambitious aim. We will report on progress to date.

 

 

   
       
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