Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
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: 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