Facilitator: Fazel Hayati (LinkedIn profile)

Description: Understanding variation is one of the pillars of W. Edwards Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge.

Man's search for uniformity, reproducibility, and consistency—whether dealing with interchangeable parts or analyzing repeated measurements—spans millennia. However, it was not until the early twentieth century that the challenges of consistency and uniformity in repeated measurements were systematically addressed. In 1924, Walter Shewhart invented the Quality Control Chart, a new way to think about variation and uniformity.

Building on Shewhart’s pioneering work, W. Edwards Deming expanded the concept of variation into an indispensable element of his management philosophy. Deming demonstrated that understanding variation is critical for leadership, managing people, continuous improvement, purchasing, and elevating the quality of work itself.

In this Understanding Variation Study Series, we will explore the foundational works of Shewhart and Deming, alongside the significant contributions of others. Through various case studies and cross-disciplinary applications, we will examine how managing variation is one of the keys to  organizational success. The framework for these sessions is anchored by the following quotes:

“Life is variation. Variation there will always be, between people, output, in service, in product. What is the variation trying to tell us about a process, and about the people that work in it?”   

“Understanding variation is the key to success in quality and business.”

"If I had to reduce my message for management to just a few words, I'd say it all had to do with reducing variation."

W, Edwards Deming

“The central problem of management in all its aspects, including planning, procurement, manufacturing, research, sales, personnel, accounting, [medicine] and law, is to understand better the meaning of variation, and to extract information contained in variation.”

                                                                                                Lloyd S. Nelson (quoted by Deming)

First cohort starts: July 30, 2026

End Date: September 24, 2026 (skipping August 20)

Prerequisite: Open minds, willing to learn and contribute

Format: eight 1.5-hour sessions, meeting on Thursdays over 8 weeks, starting at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time

Zoom: register to receive Zoom link

Next planned session start date: Summer 2027

Facilitator: Fazel Hayati (LinkedIn profile)

Description: In The Leader’s Handbook, Peter Scholtes offers a comprehensive expansion of Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge. Drawing from his deep expertise in organizational development, adult learning, people and intrinsic motivation, Scholtes operationalizes Deming’s teachings into six core competencies for leading organizations, inspiring people, and managing daily workflows.

In his forward to the Leader’s Handbook Ackoff offers a format to study the book which we will follow in these sessions:

“I suggest a small group of managers or students of management read each chapter separately but simultaneously, and then gather to discuss what they have read. They should discuss what they agree with, what they disagree with, and, most important, how what they have read will affect their behavior. Discussion should also follow up on previous statements about what will be done differently as a result of reading the book. The format and the clarity of the presentation encourage such discussions.” [emphasis added]

Format: eight 1.5-hour sessions, meeting on XXXXXX over 8 weeks, starting at XX AM Pacific Time

Next cohort (#2) starts: To be determined

End Date: To be determined

Prerequisite: Open minds, willing to learn and contribute

Zoom: register to receive Zoom link

Next planned session start date: Spring 2027

This is for the monthly online continuing education session, held on the Third Tuesday of each month (skipping July and December), with presenters covering past and future Forum sessions and new learning opportunities.

Upon registering, a Zoom link to join will be sent to your e-mail.

Facilitator: Tim Higgins (LinkedIn profile)

Description: Participants study W. Edwards Deming's last book, The New Economics, in which he introduced his concept of a "System of Profound Knowledge." The group reads specified chapters before each session and through facilitation guided by Tim explore the meaning and application of the ideas, as well as personal reactions to the ideas. Supplemental reading material become part of the conversations, as do reactions to video tapes of Dr. Deming.

Format: eight 1.5-hour sessions, meeting on Thursdays over 8 weeks, starting at 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Next cohort (#5) starts: October 8, 2026

End Date: December 3, 2026 (skipping November 26)

Prerequisite: Open minds, willing to learn and contribute

Zoom: register to receive Zoom link

Next planned session start date: Spring 2027