Profound (John Willis)
Explore every episode of Profound
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E4- Bill Bensing- Supply Chain and Security | 00:54:57 | |
In this episode, Bill and I discuss operations research and supply chain concepts and how they apply to security. Bill gives an overview of his work with DOD on project DEDSORD. He also gives a great overview of DevOps Automated Governance and usage of Sigstore. We also touch on SBOM's. Bill can be found mainly on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billbensing/ | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - E2 S5- Gene Kim- Socio-Technical Maestros | 01:07:22 | |
In this episode, Gene Kim and I talk about all things DevOps. We discuss some of his podcasts on the Idealcast along with his current work with Dr. Spear. Almost all of Gene's work can be found at Itrevolution.com. | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E6 - John Hunter - Curious Cat (Part 1) | 00:49:30 | |
This is part 1 of a two-part episode with John Hunter. John Hunter's background includes two areas of focus: management improvement and information technology program management. His experience is in improving the performance of organizations. For the last 15 years, his focus has been on management improvement with a concentration on using technology to aid this process. | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E7 - John Hunter - Curious Cat (Part 2) | 00:41:22 | |
This is part 2 of a two-part episode with John Hunter. John Hunter's background includes two areas of focus: management improvement and information technology program management. His experience is in improving the performance of organizations. For the last 15 years, his focus has been on management improvement with a concentration on using technology to aid this process. | |||
| 22 Feb 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E8 - Domenico Lepore - Deming and Goldratt | 01:06:46 | |
Dominico Lepore developed the Decalogue™ management methodology together with Oded Cohen, a leading, world-renowned expert in The Theory of Constraints. One of the first books I read about Dr. Deming is his "Deming and Goldratt: The Theory of Constraints and the System of Profound Knowledge." In this episode, we cover everything from Dr. Deming's empathy to how the Talmud explains of Theory of Constraints. If you stick around long enough we discuss Umberto Eco. Intelligent Management | |||
| 08 Mar 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E9 - Rob England - The Original Skeptic | 00:54:44 | |
Rob and I go old school in this episode. We had first met back in my early days before DevOps when I used to run a Tivoli consulting business. Rob describes how he used Dr. Deming's principles in his consulting work. Rob works alongside Dr. Cherry Vu and describes himself as a Teal Unicorn. LinkedIn and Twitter are the best places to find Rob and Cherry's ideas and work. | |||
| 18 Oct 2022 | S2 E10 - Dave Mangot - DevOps Old School | 00:52:26 | |
Dave and I have a long history together. Besides being one of the DevOps OG's (did I say that right?) Dave has also been a fan of Dr. Deming for many years and came on the podcast to let me know about his consulting work and Deming's principles. Dave specializes in DevOps and private equity. When I hang out with Dave, I always have a great time. You can find him at: | |||
| 02 Dec 2022 | Profound - S2 E11 - Katie Anderson - Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn | 00:55:01 | |
Katie Anderson is a leadership coach, consultant, and author who inspires individuals and organizations. In 2015, she moved to Japan from public health research. She shares lessons she learned in Japan about deepening your leadership skills with The Profound podcast. As Katie had already applied Toyota production principles in the healthcare system, her life in Japan inspired her to learn lean at the source. Transitioning from public health to consulting was her big pivot away from academia and research. | |||
| 21 Dec 2022 | S2 E12 - Glenn Wilson - Trip to Japan | 00:47:25 | |
Glenn Wilson, author of "DevSecOps: A leader's guide to producing secure software without compromising flow, feedback, and continuous improvement" discusses our upcoming trip to Japan. We are both becoming huge fans of Katie Anderson (see my last podcast), and we are attending her Japan trip. I asked him why he signed up for the trip. In addition, we discuss Katie's book and how it's a perfect complement to Mike Rother's Toyota Kata and Steven Spear's High Velocity Edge. You might find some bonus material if you're an Umberto Eco fan. | |||
| 13 Jan 2023 | S3 E1 - Damon Edwards - Profound Knowledge | 00:34:55 | |
In this episode Damon Edwards interviews me about my upcoming Deming book. Damon and I have been DevOps partners in crime since the beginning of DevOps. We were both down in Boca Raton recording for the Techstrong Predict conference. Techstrong let us use their facility to record the podcast. Damon does a great job of pulling knowledge about my book. | |||
| 31 Jan 2023 | S3 E2 - Dennis Sergent - From Bell Labs to DevOps | 00:50:03 | |
Dennis is the founder of Sergent Results Group. Sergent Results Group was founded in 2000 and offers professional coaching, consulting, leadership learning, quality and productivity training and expert facilitation. The company created Continual Quality Improvement (CQI) Academy™ for leaders and managers seeking to understand the scientific improvement methods of W. Edwards Deming and others. | |||
| 01 Feb 2023 | S3 E3 - Donna Knapp - Dr. Deming as a Sustainability Specialist? | 00:52:13 | |
I interview a longtime Dr. Deming fan and early DevOps pioneer in this episode. Donna has a similar background to mine, where we both worked before the age of clouds and modern infrastructure. You are going to enjoy this podcast. Here are some links for follow-up knowledge. TRADE-OFFS UNDER PRESSURE: HEURISTICS AND OBSERVATIONS OF TEAMS RESOLVING INTERNET SERVICE OUTAGES | |||
| 03 Feb 2023 | S3 E4 - John Willis - Why Deming Still Matters (Sample Audio Book) | 01:14:32 | |
I'm John Willis (Botchagalupe). For almost ten years, I have been researching and writing a book about Dr. Deming. About two years ago, I got serious about the work, and then the pandemic struck. I should write this book if I ever intend to do so. Two years ago, I started working with a wonderful consultant, Derek Lewis. He has a phenomenal voice that you get to hear. I have worked with him for two years. After about a year of writing, I naively thought I was done. A year later, with five drafts, I could continue for another five years. However, I have finally begun working with a publisher. There will be some excellent news on that front. Hopefully, the audio, final, and Kindle versions will be available this summer. The paperback might not be available until the end of the year due to printing and supply chain issues. There are two things to note about this edition. One, it is an early version, so there will be changes when we finally produce and publish the production audio version. Two, I used a dramatic version for this edition. To add excitement, I added some voiceovers and minor sound effects. I hope you enjoy listening to this audiobook’s first three chapters. If you would like an early copy to finish the book, please contact botchagalupe@gmail.com. However, it won't be a version for distribution. The final version may or may not change. I hope you enjoy the first three chapters; the actual final book will have 20 chapters, as it stands at 350 pages. | |||
| 07 Mar 2023 | S3 E5 - Donna Knapp - Probable Cause versus Root Cause | 00:48:59 | |
In this episode, Donna and I discuss what's wrong with the words Root Cause and Root Cause Analysis. Our original thoughts and the differences between the old and new meanings are discussed. Undoubtedly, Dr. Deming's words matter, and we try to figure out what he would have said. | |||
| 12 Mar 2023 | S3 E6 - Mike Harris - Profound Testing | 00:48:40 | |
This episode features Mike Harris, a Tester at Geckoboard who self-identifies as a Tester. We discuss how vital Dr. Deming's ideas are to testing, especially around the System of Profound Knowledge, with Mike, who has worked in testing for 20 years. It is another example of Dr. Deming's ideas' relevance in the modern era. Deming’s journey of profound knowledge and the importance of systems thinking. How do we verify what we think we know? Driving out fear in your team. The tyranny of the prevailing style of management and how to break it. What is agile? How did it start? Words matter to Deming. Do you find that most people in the testing community don’t have a clear operational definition? | |||
| 28 Mar 2023 | S3 E7 - Tracy Bannon - DevOps, DevSecOps, SRE, Risk, and Generative AI | 00:53:47 | |
I geek out with Tracy Bannon in this episode. Tracy gave us a little history of MITRE and her work at MITRE. DevOps, DevSecOps, and SRE, were also discussed from words to movements. We explore QA and risk controls as well as modern governance. Our conversation ended with a great discussion about generative AI, specifically ChatGPT. Tracy can be found on Linkedin here: | |||
| 18 Jan 2024 | S3 E8 - Bill Bellows - Genichi Taguchi and Quality - Part 1 | 00:55:50 | |
In this first part of a two-part series, I chat with Bill Bellows in this episode. Bill gave us a little history of his introduction to Genichi Taguchi's methods and quality concepts while working as an engineer in the jet engine industry. We explore key ideas around variability reduction, precision vs accuracy, process capability, and Taguchi's loss function. Our conversation looks at the difference between traditional quality approaches focused on specifications and Taguchi's view of quality based on quantifying loss and variation. We riff on analogies using a dartboard and Deming's red bead experiment to clarify Taguchi's perspectives on "loss" and variation even within specification limits. Bill's LinkedIn can be found here: | |||
| 22 Jan 2024 | S3 E9 - Bill Bellows - Genichi Taguchi and Quality - Part 2 | 00:48:02 | |
In this second part of a two-part series, I speak with Bill Bellows about W. Edwards Deming's influence on Japanese manufacturing, specifically Toyota. We discuss Deming's relationship with Genichi Taguchi and how their quality philosophies intersect and complement each other. We explore Deming and Taguchi's differing notions of quality - meeting specifications versus minimizing loss to society. Bill's LinkedIn can be found here: | |||
| 07 Feb 2024 | S4 E1 - Adam Hawkins - Seeking Quality in the Digital Landscape | 00:58:19 | |
I have an enlightening conversation with Adam Hawkins in this episode. We dive deep into W. Edwards Deming's seminal perspectives on quality. Our dialogue explores how this expansive framing of quality requires connecting producers and consumers in a broader system. We relate these concepts to service level objectives (SLOs) and their role in quantifying acceptable loss balanced against keeping systems valuable. This leads us to the profound realization that quality is contextual, varying across different systems and business needs. Among other topics, we touch on the intricacies of variation, Deming's red bead experiment, the challenges of measurement and pragmatism, bringing quality thinking into software, and the difficulty of conveying Deming's multifaceted ideas to novices. Our exchange centers on constructing shared mental models to apply Deming's deep knowledge in today's digital landscape. Adam’s LinkedIn can be found here: Precision, Accuracy, and Two Quality Questions: Unpacking a conversation between John Willis and Bill Bellows on Taguchi's approach to quality | |||
| 10 Feb 2024 | S4 E2 - Derek Lewis - Legacy of Quality Control Pioneers | 00:30:18 | |
I have a great discussion between Derek Lewis and John Willis, focusing on the historical and philosophical underpinnings of quality control and those who were paramount to the movement including Walter Shewhart, W. Edwards Deming, and Joseph M. Juran. The dialogue includes anecdotes, critiques, and appreciations of Shewhart and Deming's work, including a dramatic rendition of a critique by Juran. | |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | S4 E3 - Bill Bellows - Navigating Organizations Through a Systems Lens Part 1 | 00:34:16 | |
In this episode, I sit down once again with Bill Bellows to explore the interconnected nature of quality thinking. Our conversation ventures beyond traditional boundaries, drawing on Bill's unique insights into systemic thinking and its implications for organizational excellence. We delve into the philosophy of interconnectedness, illustrating how quality extends far beyond the superficial, embedding itself into every facet of production and service. Bill shares enlightening perspectives on the importance of viewing organizations as whole systems, where every element is interrelated and changes in one part can ripple through others. 2) Ackoff on DIKUW - article, https://faculty.ung.edu/kmelton/Documents/DataWisdom.pdf 3) Ackoff on DIKUW - video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzS5V5-0VsA&t=21s 3) Deming and Ackoff - excerpts of Volume 21 of the Deming Library, ("A Theory of a System for Educators and Managers”),https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MJ3lGJ4OFo 4) Deming and Ackoff - transcript of full recorded of Volume 21 of the Deming Library ,https://ackoffcenter.blogs.com/ackoff_center_weblog/2011/04/a-converstaion-between-russell-ackoff-and-edward-deming.html 5) Ackoff - Memories, https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Hardcover-Collectors-Russell-Ackoff/dp/0956537995 6) Ackoff - Differences That Make a Difference, https://www.amazon.com/Differences-that-Make-Difference-Distinctions/dp/1908009012/ | |||
| 26 Feb 2024 | S4 E4 - Bill Bellows - Unraveling Complexity in Safety and Quality Part 2 | 00:40:24 | |
In part two of their discussion, John Willis engages in a deep dive with Bill Bellows on the multifaceted world of safety, quality, and systems thinking. Inspired by the pioneering work of Sydney Decker, Dr. Woods, and Erik Hollnagel, they explore the nuanced perspectives on safety and quality that transcend conventional understanding. John and Bill navigate the intricate connections between thoroughness, efficiency, and effectiveness, drawing parallels to the foundational principles of Deming and Ackoff. They dissect the Efficiency-Thoroughness Trade-Off (ETTO) principle introduced by Hollnagel, pondering its implications in the context of operational safety and quality management. The conversation further delves into Russ Ackoff’s insights on systems thinking, the DIKW (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom) model, and the profound impact of understanding complex systems on improving organizational outcomes. Bill shares anecdotes from his experiences, illustrating the practical application of these concepts in real-world settings, including his work at Rocketdyne and with the Deming community. 2) Ackoff on DIKUW - article, https://faculty.ung.edu/kmelton/Documents/DataWisdom.pdf 3) Ackoff on DIKUW - video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzS5V5-0VsA&t=21s 3) Deming and Ackoff - excerpts of Volume 21 of the Deming Library, ("A Theory of a System for Educators and Managers”),https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MJ3lGJ4OFo 4) Deming and Ackoff - transcript of full recorded of Volume 21 of the Deming Library ,https://ackoffcenter.blogs.com/ackoff_center_weblog/2011/04/a-converstaion-between-russell-ackoff-and-edward-deming.html 5) Ackoff - Memories, https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Hardcover-Collectors-Russell-Ackoff/dp/0956537995 6) Ackoff - Differences That Make a Difference, https://www.amazon.com/Differences-that-Make-Difference-Distinctions/dp/1908009012/ | |||
| 06 Mar 2024 | S4 E5 - Richard Steele - Navigating Cultural Shifts with Deming's Philosophy | 00:43:52 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I engage in an insightful conversation with Richard Steele, founder and president of Peeker Services. We explore his journey from rebuilding locomotives to embracing W. Edwards Deming's principles, leading to a radical change in his company's management practices, particularly around performance appraisals and bonus systems. Steele shares transformative moments, like presenting his new pay program to the Detroit Deming study group, including Dr. Deming himself, and the eventual transition of his company into an employee-owned structure. The dialogue delves into the practical applications of Deming's theories in the workplace, the power of collective problem-solving, and the importance of fostering a culture of learning and adaptation. Finally, we take a look at some of Dick's critiques of Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge. Steele's narrative demonstrates a successful integration of system thinking and the profound impact of shifting from traditional merit pay to a more inclusive and equitable model, redefining quality and performance metrics within his organization. | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | S4 E6 - Dr. Khai Minh Pham - Redefining Our Understanding of AI | 00:53:29 | |
In this episode of Profound, I talk with Dr. Khai Minh Pham, whose unique approach to artificial intelligence challenges conventional paradigms and opens new frontiers in AI research and application. Dr. Pham, with his extensive background in both medicine and artificial intelligence, shares his journey towards creating a distinctive AI framework that prioritizes knowledge over data, steering clear of the traditional data-centric methodologies that dominate the field. Dr. Pham recounts his early realization of the limitations inherent in human cognitive processes and how this propelled him to explore AI as a means to augment human memory and decision-making capabilities. Central to this episode is Dr. Pham's critique of the prevailing AI models that rely heavily on data processing and pattern recognition. He introduces his concept of "macro connectionist AI," a system that mimics human reasoning more closely by forming high-level knowledge representations rather than merely processing data inputs. This approach, according to Dr. Pham, not only enhances AI's problem-solving capabilities but also significantly reduces the computational resources required, challenging the current industry trend towards increasingly complex and energy-intensive AI systems. | |||
| 09 Apr 2024 | S4 E7 - Dave Nave - Engineering Quality and Transformation with Deming's Legacy | 01:05:13 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I had the pleasure of engaging with Dave Nave, a multifaceted expert with a rich background in engineering, quality improvement, and business management consulting. Through his work and studies, Nave has delved deep into W. Edwards Deming's philosophies, applying these principles across various sectors with notable emphasis on manufacturing. Our conversation explored Nave's initial skepticism towards quality improvement methodologies and his transformative encounter with Deming's teachings. Nave vividly described his early career experiences, where he challenged the concepts of process variability and predictability, only to find empirical evidence that humbled his perspective. This journey led him to embrace Deming's methodologies, seeking further education and eventually contributing to quality improvement initiatives in the defense industry and beyond. Nave's experiences with the Deming Scholars MBA program at Fordham University stood out as a pivotal moment in his career. Immersed in Deming's teachings, he gained insights from esteemed professors and applied these lessons to real-world challenges. His anecdotes about the practical applications of Deming's principles, especially in the context of manufacturing assembly lines and quality control, were particularly enlightening. The conversation also touched upon the challenges and nuances of implementing quality improvement methodologies within organizations. Nave shared stories from his consulting work, highlighting the importance of systemic thinking and the pitfalls of siloed approaches to process improvement. | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | S4 E8 - Bill Bellows - Unveiling the Spectrum of System Thinking Part 1 | 00:55:15 | |
In the first part of a two-part series with Bill Bellows, we delve deep into the essence of system thinking and its pivotal role in shaping organizations. Bellows leads us on a journey exploring the nuanced differences between 'Red Pen' and 'Blue Pen' organizations, and beyond, into the realms of 'Me' versus 'We' and the collective impact of every straw on the camel's back. Bellows opens the discussion with his famous 'Red Pen Blue Pen' exercise, a metaphorical exploration that distinguishes two types of organizations based on quality and system thinking. He illustrates how small details, like the ease of cap removal on pens, can symbolize the deeper operational philosophies and outcomes of organizations. This exercise not only serves as a tool for introspection but also highlights the broader implications of systemic thinking in operational excellence. Expanding further, Bellows introduces the concepts of 'Me' versus 'We' and the allegory of the last straw, pushing us to contemplate the collective responsibility versus individual blame within organizational contexts. Through these discussions, he underscores the importance of a systemic perspective that fosters collaboration, continuous improvement, and a shared understanding of goals and challenges. | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | S4 E9 - Bill Bellows - Unveiling the Spectrum of System Thinking Part 2 | 00:55:18 | |
In the second episode of my two-part discussion with Bill Bellows, we explore the nuanced realms of quality management, variation, and integration, drawing from the rich legacy of W. Edwards Deming and Genichi Taguchi, and their profound impact on industries ranging from automotive to aerospace. Bill Bellows shares enlightening perspectives on the historical collaboration between Ford and Mazda, illuminating the stark differences in their approaches to quality and production. He discusses the importance of minding the gap, not just in terms of parts but in the broader context of integration and systems thinking. This episode delves into the philosophical underpinnings of quality management, touching upon the concepts of red pen and blue pen companies, and the significance of aiming for systemic improvements rather than mere compliance with specifications. The conversation extends beyond the specifics of automotive engineering, drawing parallels with software development, healthcare systems, and manufacturing processes. Bellows emphasizes the critical role of managing variation not just at the part level but as an integral part of a coherent system. This approach, he argues, is key to achieving superior quality, functionality, and customer satisfaction. | |||
| 29 Apr 2024 | S4 E10 - Ariane David, PhD - Embracing Uncertainty in Transformation | 00:53:55 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with Ariane David, PhD, an insightful thinker and academic who delves into the principles of non-positional thinking and its profound impact on personal and organizational learning. We explore how W. Edwards Deming's theories on quality and continuous improvement intersect with modern challenges in digital transformation, particularly within IT, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. Dr. David's introduces the four principles of non-positional thinking, beginning with the 'uncertainty principle,' which emphasizes intellectual humility and the acceptance that our perceptions and conclusions might be flawed. This acknowledgment opens the door to 'curiosity,' the second principle, fostering a desire to explore and understand rather than to confirm biases. The discussion progresses to the 'principle of discernment,' where information is analyzed critically to separate useful insights from noise. Lastly, Ariane discusses 'courage,' which is essential for challenging our own assumptions and committing to a path of genuine understanding and improvement . Throughout the conversation, Dr. David highlights the dangers of 'adaptive learning' in organizations—learning driven by fear and survival instincts—which often prevents genuine insight and improvement. She contrasts this with 'generative learning,' which encourages a blame-free environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and learning, thereby fostering a culture that supports continuous improvement and aligns closely with Deming's philosophy. | |||
| 14 May 2024 | S4 E11 - John Dues - Transforming Education Through Deming's Principles | 00:51:14 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I'm joined by John Dues, Chief Learning Officer at United Schools Network in Ohio and an innovative educator who has ingeniously applied W. Edwards Deming's theories to the educational sector. John shares his journey of discovery into Deming's methodologies and how these have profoundly influenced his approach to improving educational systems. Our discussion delves into John's initial skepticism and eventual embrace of Deming's System of Profound Knowledge, which consists of understanding systems, variation, psychology, and knowledge theory. John explains his experiences in applying these principles within his school network, particularly how they've been used to enhance operational efficiency and educational outcomes amidst the challenges posed by remote learning during the pandemic. The conversation also touches on John's approach to leadership and learning, emphasizing the necessity of continuous improvement and systems thinking in educational administration. He highlights the importance of aligning educational strategies with Deming’s philosophies to foster environments that nurture rather than stifle, promoting an organizational culture where insights into systemic improvements are encouraged and valued. John's innovative application of Deming's theories offers a template for transformative leadership in education, demonstrating the relevance of these age-old concepts in addressing modern challenges within the sector. | |||
| 21 May 2024 | S4 E12 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Temporal Design and Digital Transformation | 00:57:38 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jabe Bloom, an expert in design studies and organizational theory. Recently completing his PhD at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Bloom brings a fresh perspective on the intersection of temporality, complexity, and design, particularly in the context of digital transformation in IT and other industries. We dive into the nuances of temporality versus time, exploring how these concepts influence design decisions. Dr. Bloom elaborates on how temporality is a qualitative measure of change and its impact on human experience and project planning. This foundational concept sets the stage for understanding "timeful" design, which embraces the dynamic nature of contexts and proposes continual re-evaluation and adaptation. Dr. Bloom challenges the traditional notion of design as a finite process, suggesting instead that it is an ongoing interaction with the environment. This perspective aligns with DevOps principles, where software development and operations are seen as continuous and evolving processes. He highlights the importance of context and proposition in design, where solutions must be constantly re-assessed to remain relevant as contexts change. One of the key takeaways from this episode is the idea of "bounded rationality". Dr. Bloom explains how this concept, which acknowledges the limitations of human decision-making capabilities, applies to modern digital systems. He also delves into the concept of "recombining," which involves ongoing negotiation and collaboration across organizational boundaries to address complex problems that cannot be solved by isolated teams. Dr. Bloom's insights into the temporal nature of objects and systems offer a profound shift in how we perceive design and operational challenges. By viewing software and other technological artifacts as temporal objects, he advocates for a more fluid and adaptive approach to design and implementation, one that continually responds to changing contexts and user needs. | |||
| 28 May 2024 | S4 E13 - Beth Blankenship - Exploring Deming's Legacy and Modern Applications | 01:16:06 | |
In this episode, I have a conversation with Beth Blankenship, a seasoned expert in quality management and a fervent disciple of W. Edwards Deming. We dive deep into Deming's profound principles and their continued relevance in today's digital transformation landscape. Beth begins by sharing her journey from an IT background to becoming a passionate advocate for Deming's teachings. Her story includes a moment at a Deming seminar, which sparked her lifelong dedication to quality improvement and management systems. Beth reflects on her experiences working in various sectors, emphasizing the importance of teaching and genuine engagement in quality initiatives. A significant part of our discussion revolves around Deming's influence on Japanese industry post-WWII and how his principles of systems thinking, variation, and profound knowledge reshaped their manufacturing processes. Beth provides insights into her extensive research, including the historical context of Deming's ideas and their foundational roots in the work of Walter Shewhart and other early 20th-century scientists. Beth also critiques modern methodologies like Six Sigma, highlighting how they often miss the holistic, systems-oriented approach Deming championed. She underscores the necessity of focusing on customer needs and continuous innovation, rather than merely eliminating defects. Our conversation concludes with Beth's reflections on the enduring impact of Deming's work and her current efforts to disseminate his teachings through papers, podcasts, and an upcoming YouTube channel. She passionately advocates for the preservation and application of Deming's principles, aiming to educate a new generation of quality management professionals. | |||
| 05 Jun 2024 | S4 E14 - Rob Park - Navigating Software Evolution through Deming's Principles | 00:53:12 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I have a conversation with Rob Park. Rob shares his journey from early involvement in extreme programming (XP) to his current fascination with W. Edwards Deming's principles and their application in modern software development. Rob's career path offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from using case tools and adopting scrum practices before they were widely recognized, to working with Kanban and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes. He reminisces about his introduction to Deming's work through the influence of notable figures in the agile community. A significant portion of the discussion delves into the integration of Deming's theories into software practices. Rob talks about the impact of statistical process control (SPC) and control charts on his work, emphasizing the importance of understanding variation and employing data-driven decision-making. He highlights the utility of Dr. Donald Wheeler's teachings on process behavior charts and the critical difference between enumerative and analytical statistics. The episode wraps up with Rob reflecting on the broader implications of Deming's work, advocating for its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges in software development. He shares his experiences of applying Deming's theories in real-world scenarios, illustrating how these timeless concepts continue to drive quality and efficiency in the digital age.
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| 18 Jun 2024 | S4 E15 - Mike Beck - Engineering Excellence Through Deming's Lens | 01:09:12 | |
In this episode, I had a conversation with Mike Beck. We dive deep into W. Edwards Deming's seminal perspectives on quality and their application in the automotive and healthcare sectors. Mike, with his vast experience at General Motors and Toyota, shares compelling stories and insights on how Deming's principles transformed his approach to engineering and management. Mike Beck's journey began as a mechanical engineer at General Motors in 1979, a time when the company held a dominant market share. His career took a significant turn after attending Deming’s seminar in 1984, which profoundly influenced his perspective on quality and management. This episode captures Mike's evolution from a reliability and test engineer to a leader in statistical methods and quality improvement at GM. Key Discussion Points:
Show Notes: | |||
| 26 Jun 2024 | S4 E16 - Angela Montgomery - Integrating Deming and Goldratt for Organizational Transformation | 00:58:18 | |
In this insightful episode of the Profound Podcast, I speak with Angela Montgomery, co-founder of Intelligent Management and author of the upcoming book, The Human Constraint. Angela shares her unique journey from a background in arts to collaborating with physicists. The conversation delves into the artificial barriers within organizations, the importance of systemic thinking, and how integrating Deming's System of Profound Knowledge with the Theory of Constraints can drive meaningful change. Angela highlights the critical differences between bottlenecks and constraints, emphasizing the strategic value of identifying and managing constraints to enhance organizational flow. She also discusses the challenges of adopting a systemic approach in traditional hierarchical structures and the role of mental models in limiting or advancing organizational potential. Through practical examples and narrative, Angela illustrates the transformative power of the Decalogue Method, which combines scientific rigor with literary storytelling. She also touches on her collaboration with renowned playwright Donald Freed to ensure the book's narrative is engaging and accessible. This episode is a must-listen for business leaders and practitioners interested in continuous improvement, conflict resolution, and embedding innovation into daily practice. Angela's insights offer a fresh perspective on leveraging systemic thinking to achieve sustainable organizational success. | |||
| 09 Jul 2024 | S4 E 17 - Dr. Barbara Lawton - Insights on Evolution and Learning in the Digital Age | 01:20:44 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Barbara Lawton, a distinguished statistician and expert in experimental design. Dr. Lawton shares her journey from studying biology and ecology to diving deep into statistics, eventually finding herself at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility. It was here she experienced a pivotal moment that led her to W. Edwards Deming's teachings. Dr. Lawton recounts how a significant project at Rocky Flats fell apart due to budget cuts, illustrating Deming's principle that quality is determined in the boardroom. This realization propelled her to attend a seminar by Deming, which profoundly changed her perspective on quality and management. She describes her experience of traveling with Deming, learning from his insights, and understanding the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. The conversation delves into Deming's System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK), highlighting its relevance in today's fast-evolving world. Dr. Lawton emphasizes the need for an appreciation of systems, understanding of variation, psychology, and theory of knowledge, and expands on these concepts by integrating ideas from physics and ecology. She discusses the role of entropy, thermodynamics, and the dynamic nature of systems, explaining how these principles apply to modern organizations and leadership. Dr. Lawton also touches on the importance of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and effective communication in leadership. She advocates for creating environments that foster continuous learning and adaptability, essential for navigating the complexities of today's digital landscape. | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | S4 E18 - Joseph Enochs - Embracing AI in the Enterprise | 01:15:23 | |
In this episode, I speak with Joseph Enochs, Managing Director of AI/ML and Emerging Technologies at Enterprise Vision Technologies. Known for his extensive background in DevOps and digital transformation, Joseph shares his remarkable journey transitioning into the AI domain. Joseph begins by recounting how his interest in AI was sparked, notably influenced by the foundational concepts of W. Edwards Deming and the subsequent developments in DevOps. He details the pivotal moments that led him to pursue a master's degree in AI, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and the foresight needed to anticipate technological trends. The discussion covers the evolution and integration of AI within large enterprises, emphasizing the challenges and strategies for incorporating AI into existing systems. Joseph explains the significance of vector databases, context windows, and the roles of orchestrators and agents in enhancing AI capabilities. He also delves into the practical applications of AI in business, such as improving call center efficiency and automating complex tasks. In the final segment, Joseph offers practical advice on how to start learning about AI, emphasizing the importance of experimentation and validation of assumptions. The episode concludes with a reflection on the profound impact AI is set to have on the future of technology and business. | |||
| 06 Aug 2024 | S4 E19 - Andrew Clay Shafer - Unpacking DevOps Evolution and the Future of Digital Transformation | 00:51:47 | |
In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I speak with Andrew Clay Shafer, a pivotal figure in the DevOps community and a key influencer in the industry. They delve into the evolution of DevOps, its current state, and its implications for the future, particularly in the context of digital transformation. The conversation begins with a reflection on the early days of DevOps and Agile, highlighting key milestones and the ongoing relevance of foundational principles, such as those proposed by W. Edwards Deming. Shafer emphasizes the timeless nature of these principles and their application beyond any buzzword lifecycle. The dialogue then transitions to the challenges and opportunities within the industry, addressing the impact of macroeconomic forces, the rise of AI, and the buzz around platform engineering. A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the importance of organizational learning and the necessity for companies to understand and adapt their processes to achieve true transformation. Shafer shares his insights on the common pitfalls organizations face when adopting new methodologies, stressing the need for contextual understanding and incremental improvement rather than superficial adoption of new terms or tools. The episode also touches on the concept of platform engineering as a continuation of the DevOps philosophy, rather than a separate or novel idea. Then to wrap up, we discuss the marketing dynamics that drive the emergence of new buzzwords and the critical need for genuine integration and alignment within organizations to realize the benefits of these practices. | |||
| 04 Sep 2024 | S4 E20 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Navigating Complexity with Pragmatic Philosophy | 01:05:27 | |
In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I have an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jabe Bloom, a prominent voice in the fields of DevOps and digital transformation. The discussion revolves around the philosophical underpinnings of scientific reasoning and its application to complex systems, particularly through the lens of Charles Sanders Peirce's work on abductive reasoning. Jabe Bloom begins by exploring Peirce’s contributions to philosophy, particularly how Peirce's concept of abductive reasoning offers a framework for making educated guesses in situations where data is incomplete or variables are unknown. This idea becomes especially pertinent when Bloom contrasts the scientific method typically used in complicated domains, like Lean manufacturing, with the unpredictability of complex systems, where multiple hypotheses might be equally valid. The conversation further delves into how these ideas connect to digital transformation, especially in organizations navigating the complexities of modern IT and business environments. Bloom highlights the importance of fostering environments where experimentation and educated guessing are encouraged, as this aligns with Peirce's pragmatic approach, which values the usefulness of an idea over its absolute truth. To wrap up, we also discuss the broader implications of Peirce’s work on modern AI and socio-technical systems, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of how these systems operate and how to integrate artificial intelligence into complex human processes. | |||
| 18 Sep 2024 | S4 E21 - Erik J. Larson - The Myth of AI and Unravelling The Hype | 01:04:25 | |
In this episode of the Profound Podcast, I speak with Erik J. Larson, author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence, about the speculative nature and real limitations of AI, particularly in relation to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Larson delves into the philosophical and scientific misunderstandings surrounding AI, challenging the dominant narrative that AGI is just around the corner. Drawing from his expertise and experience in the field, Larson explains why much of the AI hype lacks empirical foundation. He emphasizes the limits of current AI models, particularly their reliance on inductive reasoning, which, though powerful, is insufficient for achieving human-like intelligence. Larson discusses how the field of AI has historically blended speculative futurism with genuine technological advancements, often fueled by financial incentives rather than scientific rigor. He highlights how this approach has led to misconceptions about AI’s capabilities, especially in the context of AGI. Drawing connections to philosophical theories of inference, Larson introduces deductive, inductive, and abductive reasoning, explaining how current AI systems fall short in their over-reliance on inductive methods. The conversation touches on the challenges of abduction (the "broken" form of reasoning humans often use) and the difficulty of replicating this in AI systems. Throughout the discussion, we explore the social and ethical implications of AI, including concerns about data limitations, the dangers of synthetic data, and the looming “data wall” that could hinder future AI progress. We also touch on broader societal impacts, such as how AI’s potential misuse and over-reliance might affect innovation and human intelligence. | |||
| 27 Oct 2024 | S4 E22 - Dr. Jabe Bloom - Navigating the Myths and Realities of AI with Pragmatism | 01:09:51 | |
In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jabe Bloom, a researcher and expert in systems thinking, AI, and digital transformation. We explore Eric Lawson’s book The Myth of AI, tackling the contentious debate around artificial general intelligence (AGI). Dr. Bloom offers insights from his dissertation and divides the ongoing discourse on AI into two camps: dogmatists and pragmatists. Dogmatists believe AGI is inevitable, while pragmatists focus on the practical impacts of current AI technology, such as large language models (LLMs), and how these will reshape businesses, education, and society. Throughout the episode, Dr. Bloom explains his framework for thinking about AI, touching on proactionary versus precautionary approaches to its development and regulation. He also draws connections between these ideas and W. Edwards Deming’s principles, especially around abductive reasoning—a concept that links back to Dr. Bloom’s past discussions about AI’s potential in problem-solving. The conversation takes a critical view of AGI's feasibility, with Dr. Bloom emphasizing the current challenges AI faces in replicating abductive reasoning, which involves making intelligent guesses—a capability he argues machines have yet to achieve. We also dive into examples from fields like DevOps, healthcare, and city planning, discussing where AI has shown great promise and where it still falls short. Key takeaways from the episode include the importance of addressing present AI technologies and their immediate impacts on work and society, as well as the ongoing need for human oversight and critique when using AI systems. | |||
| 22 Nov 2024 | S4 E23 - Tracy Ragan - Tackling DevOps, AI, and Women in Tech | 00:56:32 | |
In this episode, I invite Tracy Ragan, CEO of DeployHub, on the podcast for an in-depth discussion on the evolution of DevOps, the complexities of modern software systems, and the cultural challenges women face in technology. Tracy's rich history in software development, from working on mainframes in the late 1980s to spearheading DevOps advancements, provides a fascinating lens through which to examine the industry. Key Topics Discussed:
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| 27 Nov 2024 | S4 E24 - Dr. David Woods - Resilience and Complexity: Part One | 00:47:21 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. David Woods, a leading expert in resilience engineering and complexity science, for the first of a two-part conversation. Together, we explore the interplay between resilience, complexity, and systems thinking, diving into how these principles intersect with W. Edwards Deming’s transformative ideas on quality and continual improvement. Dr. Woods introduces the foundational concepts of resilience and highlights its critical importance in an era marked by rapid digital transformation. We discuss how organizations in IT, healthcare, and manufacturing can adapt to unforeseen challenges by fostering resilient systems capable of anticipating, absorbing, and recovering from disruptions. Connecting these insights to Deming’s framework, Dr. Woods emphasizes the need for leadership to shift focus from static efficiency to dynamic adaptability. Key themes in this episode include:
Dr. Woods’ expertise provides a thought-provoking lens for understanding how organizations can prepare for the unexpected while staying true to the pursuit of quality and improvement. Part one lays a strong foundation for the continuation of our discussion in the next episode, where we’ll delve deeper into practical strategies and case studies. | |||
| 10 Dec 2024 | S4 E25 - Dr. David Woods - Resilience and Complexity: Part Two | 00:48:37 | |
In this second installment of my conversation with Dr. David Woods, we continue our exploration of resilience engineering and complexity science, focusing on practical applications and actionable strategies. Building on the foundational concepts from part one, Dr. Woods offers deeper insights into how organizations can thrive in unpredictable environments by embracing resilience as a core competency. We dive into the nuts and bolts of designing systems that can adapt and recover, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration, continuous learning, and feedback loops. Dr. Woods connects these practices to W. Edwards Deming’s teachings, particularly the interplay between profound knowledge and operational flexibility. Our conversation also underscores the significance of learning from near misses and small failures, treating them as opportunities to strengthen systems rather than vulnerabilities to hide. Key highlights include:
This episode serves as a practical guide for anyone seeking to bridge theoretical concepts with real-world applications. Dr. Woods leaves us with actionable takeaways on how to lead and thrive in an era of constant change, making this a must-listen for leaders and practitioners alike. | |||
| 19 Dec 2024 | S4 E26 - An Important In2:In Thinking Announcement | 00:09:54 | |
In this short episode, I reconnect with Dr. Bill Bellows, a frequent guest and advocate for W. Edwards Deming's principles. The conversation focuses on reviving the In2:In Thinking Network, a nonprofit Dr. Bellows co-founded to improve how individuals and organizations work, learn, and think together. Dr. Bellows discusses the origins of the network and its 16-year legacy of bringing together diverse voices inspired by Deming, Russell Ackoff, and others to explore innovative ways of collaboration. We also reveal exciting plans for a 2025 In2:In Thinking Network Conference in Santa Clarita, California. This event aims to merge communities from software development, systems thinking, and various industries to foster cross-pollination of ideas. The goal? An "oasis of sanity in a sea of madness," where passionate learners share experiences and challenge conventional approaches to problem-solving. | |||
| 20 Dec 2024 | S4 E27 - Dr. Bill Bellows - Bridging Deming, DevOps, and the Power of Systems Thinking Part 1 | 00:41:05 | |
In this episode, I engage with Dr. Bill Bellows in a deep dive into the application of W. Edwards Deming’s systems thinking in software development and DevOps. Dr. Bellows, a veteran in quality management and an expert in Deming’s principles, shares insights on variation, Taguchi loss functions, and the synthesis of parts in a system to highlight gaps in current industry metrics like DORA. Key Topics:
Key Insights:
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| 23 Dec 2024 | S4 E28 - Dr. Bill Bellows - Bridging Deming, DevOps, and the Power of Systems Thinking Part 2 | 00:37:55 | |
In this second part of my conversation with Dr. Bill Bellows, we continue our deep dive into the profound concepts of W. Edwards Deming and their modern applications in leadership, systems thinking, and operational excellence. Dr. Bellows brings his wealth of experience and insight to tackle complex questions about embedding systems thinking within large organizations, balancing tools and strategies, and fostering meaningful collaboration. We begin by examining the challenges of introducing Deming's principles in diverse organizational settings. Dr. Bellows shares his approach of starting small—providing a foundational vocabulary to diverse teams before scaling deeper understanding. He underscores the importance of translating concepts into actionable strategies that resonate within the unique contexts of organizations, using inspiring examples from industries like aerospace. A significant theme in this episode is the interplay between analysis and synthesis in problem-solving. Dr. Bellows advocates for a shift from merely addressing isolated failures to improving system functions holistically—a perspective championed by Deming and Taguchi. We explore examples like defining the function of a weld or a sweater to demonstrate how function-focused improvement prevents trading one failure mode for another. Dr. Bellows also reflects on the diminishing emphasis on human capital investment, such as the decline of leadership development facilities, and connects this to the broader need for fostering systems-level thinking in organizations. Together, we discuss how organizations can avoid reducing education to mere compliance training and instead inspire innovative thinking across all levels. We conclude by revisiting key takeaways, including the critical role of operational definitions in achieving clarity, the importance of defining and measuring function, and the imperative to develop methods that inspire system-wide transformation. | |||
| 14 Jan 2025 | S5 E1 - Laksh Raghavan - Multidisciplinary Thinking in Complex Systems Part 1 | 00:38:17 | |
In this episode of The Profound Podcast, I welcome back cybersecurity expert and systems thinker Laksh Raghavan. Laksh explores how multidisciplinary thinking bridges the gap between theory and practice in solving complex problems. The discussion begins with Laksh's professional journey, highlighting his early dissatisfaction with conventional consulting and his pivot toward systems thinking and complexity science. Inspired by figures like Kurt Lewin, Charlie Munger, and Russell Ackoff, Laksh outlines his approach to integrating insights from diverse disciplines to better address both technical and socio-technical challenges. A central theme of the episode is multidisciplinary thinking, which Laksh describes as synthesizing insights from various fields—physics, psychology, and economics—to build a latticework of mental models. He compares this process to what Charlie Munger advocated for in investing, but applies it internally to organizational design and problem-solving. We delve into foundational concepts like epistemic humility, the "blind men and the elephant" parable, and the challenges of communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences. Laksh critiques what he terms the "Silicon Valley syndrome," where reductive technical solutions often miss the human elements integral to sustainable success. Examples like Elon Musk's organizational strategies and the "doorman fallacy" underscore the need to see systems as adaptive and human-centered. Laksh also highlights the importance of psychological insights in addressing organizational and cybersecurity challenges. He emphasizes education reform and the joy of learning as critical to fostering creativity and resilience in individuals and teams. The conversation concludes with reflections on W. Edwards Deming's principles and their relevance to modern organizations, particularly in viewing systems holistically and embracing uncertainty. Laksh's current work with Cyb3rSyn embodies this vision, aiming to create environments where multidisciplinary learning thrives. | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | S5 E2 - Laksh Raghavan - Multidisciplinary Thinking in Complex Systems Part 2 | 00:36:25 | |
In this episode, I continue my conversation with Laksh Raghavan, a cybersecurity leader and systems thinker, diving into profound insights on applying multidisciplinary approaches to organizational challenges. Picking up from Part 1, this discussion illuminates the principles of W. Edwards Deming and other thought leaders in fostering organizational reliability, productivity, and innovation. The episode opens with a discussion on Herbert Simon's "satisficing" and its organizational implications. Laksh emphasizes how businesses like McDonald's excel by prioritizing reliability over perfection, ensuring consistent experiences across global markets. He connects this to Deming's principles of variation reduction, explaining how psychological perceptions of quality—rather than objective measures—often dictate success. This theme extends to companies like Apple, which masterfully align human psychology with technological precision to command premium loyalty and profits. We also explore behavioral science's role in technology and consumer behavior, from Uber's elimination of uncertainty in ride-hailing to Google's laser focus on search quality. They highlight the importance of understanding human psychology when solving organizational problems, as demonstrated by the famous "elevator mirrors" anecdote from Manhattan skyscrapers. Laksh masterfully ties these insights to modern developer productivity, arguing that reducing psychological friction, rather than merely optimizing technical processes, leads to sustainable performance improvements. The conversation crescendos with a deep dive into systems thinking, advocating for leadership frameworks that address interconnected "messes" rather than isolated problems. Laksh shares the vital role of education and storytelling in cultivating systemic thinking within organizations, drawing parallels between Deming’s teachings and modern challenges in cybersecurity and software delivery. | |||
| 03 Feb 2025 | S5 E3 - Joseph Enochs – DeepSeek, Emergent Behavior, and the Future of Intelligence | 00:54:28 | |
In this episode, I talk with returning guest Joseph Enochs about the artificial intelligence (AI) world and its implications for businesses and innovation. A major highlight of the conversation is an analysis of DeepSeek, an open-source AI model developed by a Chinese company. Joseph explains how DeepSeek and similar models demonstrate that AI development is becoming increasingly accessible globally. With only a fraction of the computing resources used by giants like OpenAI and Meta, DeepSeek has replicated the performance of cutting-edge models like GPT-4. This, Joseph notes, is a clear example of how creativity and resourcefulness can overcome technological constraints, further accelerating the democratization of AI. The conversation also dives into emergent behaviors, where AI models demonstrate the ability to reason about new and unseen data, similar to human problem-solving. Joseph discusses critical benchmarks like GPQA (Google-Proof Question Answering) and the ARC Prize, which measure these capabilities. He highlights how modern models use reinforcement learning to develop reasoning skills, making them capable of tackling complex tasks at an unprecedented level of sophistication. We also touch on practical business considerations, such as how organizations can evaluate AI models for cost-efficiency and task-specific performance. Joseph advises leaders to use AI-driven frameworks to determine when to invest in high-cost, high-performance models like GPT-4 Omni versus smaller, fine-tuned models for less complex problems. He underscores that open-source innovations will continue to push costs down and improve accessibility for businesses of all sizes. The discussion wraps up with a reflection on the importance of knowledge sharing, applied research, and collaborative learning to accelerate the adoption of AI in solving real-world problems. | |||
| 17 Feb 2025 | S5 E4 - Reuven Cohen – AI, Automation, and the Future of Human Work | 00:57:04 | |
In this episode, I have a fascinating conversation with Reuven Cohen, someone who I believe is one of the most important voices in AI today. Reuven recounts his journey in technology, from being an early advocate of cloud computing to now working at the cutting edge of AI and reasoning models. He shares insights into how AI is shifting the nature of work, particularly in fields like software development, business operations, and decision-making. He describes AI as "cloud computing 2.0, but with intelligence," emphasizing its role in cognitive offloading—augmenting human capability rather than merely automating tasks. A key theme of the discussion is AI’s impact on productivity and workforce structure. Reuven shares staggering personal metrics—writing nearly 10 million lines of code in a year, something that would take a traditional developer thousands of lifetimes. He argues that AI is not replacing jobs outright, but fundamentally changing who remains valuable in an organization. He suggests that companies must decide whether to empower their top 10% to become exponentially more productive or replace the bottom 90% with AI-driven automation. The conversation also dives into reasoning models versus instruct models, discussing when to use each in business applications. Reuven explains neurosymbolic AI, a new frontier where AI models don't just process natural language but interact with the world using symbolic logic and mathematics. He believes this approach will be essential for future breakthroughs in AI comprehension and decision-making. As the episode progresses, John and Reuven reflect on the geopolitical landscape of AI, noting that China has become a dominant force in AI development. They discuss DeepSeek, the Chinese-developed reasoning model, and how it has disrupted traditional players like OpenAI and Google. To wrap up, Reuven shares his latest projects, including an AI-driven truth detection system, which sparked ethical debates about transparency, privacy, and misinformation. He envisions a future where AI is not just an assistant but an autonomous force that reshapes industries, economies, and even the nature of work itself. | |||
| 27 Apr 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 1 - Introduction | 00:04:39 | |
Introduction to the new Profound podcast. This is podcast focuses on topics related to Dr. Deming. | |||
| 27 Apr 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 2 - Ben Rockwood | 00:40:34 | |
In this episode, I chat with my old friend Ben Rockwood. Ben introduced me to Dr. Deming at an early Devopsdays. Ben is a real student in this field and I am sure you will enjoy this podcast. | |||
| 27 Apr 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 3 -Doris Quinn | 00:46:38 | |
In this episode, I have an amazing conversation with Dr. Doris Quinn. Doris has a fascinating story about how she met Dr. Deming and all traveled with him in the last few years of his life. We also discuss Doris's amazing career from nurse to leading to a Ph.D. in process improvement and quality education and one of the leading industry healthcare quality leaders. | |||
| 08 May 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 4 - Mary and Tom Poppendieck | 00:49:31 | |
Mary and Tom are instrumental figures on the path I call "Deming to Devops". We discuss their journey from lean to their modern-day thought leadership roles. Chatting with Mary and Tom about Dr. Deming... it doesn't get any better than this. | |||
| 17 May 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 5 - Jeffrey Fredrick Agile Conversations | 00:44:51 | |
Another great conversation with Jeffrey Fredrick author of Agile Conversations. We cover his background and his views on Deming, Agile and Lean. | |||
| 26 May 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 6 - George Dekker - Deming to Goldratt | 00:59:30 | |
Had a great time talking with George about all things Deming and Goldratt. It went a little long but we kept bringing up new and cool ideas. George is a great industry student of Deming's work, lean, and Theory of Constraints. Hope you enjoy it! | |||
| 07 Jun 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 7 - Dr. Steven Spear - High Velocity Edge (Part 1) | 00:31:11 | |
This is a part 1 podcast. The second podcast will be posted in a few weeks. (sorry for the abrupt ending). This a podcast I did about a year ago in a different portal. I am a huge fan of Dr. Spear. I always say that there are only two books to read when it comes to Lean. Mike Rother’s Toyota Kata and Dr. Spear, High Velocity Edge. Dr. Spear is one of my favorite DevOps Enterprise Summit speakers. In this episode, we cover the gambit of Lean, TPS, Culture just about everything cool you can think about. For more information about Dr. Spear check out his highveloctyedge.com site. | |||
| 16 Jun 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 8 - Dr. Steven Spear - High Velocity Edge (part 2) | 00:30:14 | |
We finish up the second part of my conversation with Dr. Spear. | |||
| 21 Jun 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 9 - Courtney Kissler - Leadership 101 | 00:45:33 | |
Courtney Kissler is one of the pioneers in DevOps Enterprise leadership. Starting back at her days at Nordstrom. Some of my favorite stories in the DevOps Handbook are based on some of Courtney's experiences. We cover the gambit on topics related to Deming, Rother, Goldratt, and Hosen Kanari. My fanboy comes out pretty hard in this episode. I think Courtney is a great example of a true leader. | |||
| 25 Jun 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 10 - Josh Corman - Captain America | 01:00:16 | |
In this episode, Josh and I discuss the history of sBOM's, Deming and Goldratt's influence on software supply chain as well as COVID's Operation Warp Speed. I always say I'm a passionate person about IT, Josh is a passionate person about saving lives. This is a fantastic episode. | |||
| 14 Jul 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 11 - Kevin Behr - A Humble Student (Part 1) | 00:31:45 | |
In this podcast, I get to chat with Kevin Behr (co-author of The Phoenix Project). We discuss Deming's influence on Japan and modern commerce. Kevin has an interesting perspective on Toyota and Japanese culture. We also talk about the concept of a "Humble Student" and why Deming's message might have penetrated deeply as part of the Miracle in Japan. | |||
| 15 Jul 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 12 - Kevin Behr - A Humble Student (Part 2) | 00:32:50 | |
This is part 2 of my Keven Behr interview. We continue the discussion on Deming and Toyota. We also go a little deep into the Theory of Constraints and Goldratt's work. | |||
| 23 Jul 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 13 - Elisabeth Hendrickson - Test Obsessed | 00:48:57 | |
I love doing podcasts with people I really like. A few years back I wrote an Introduction to DevOps course for edX and found Elisabeth Hendrickson's work testing extremely helpful. Since then I've been a big fan of her work. We talked about her career in systems and testing and some of the new stuff she is working on. Hope you enjoy it. | |||
| 23 Jul 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 14 - Harper Reed - Obama's Narwhal | 00:45:26 | |
Harper Reed was the CTO of the Obama campaign. We talked about how he wound up as the CTO. We also talked about how they employed a lot of Agile and DevOps during the campaign. This is another great podcast. | |||
| 27 Jul 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 15 - Carmen DeArdo - Red Bead Bell | 00:49:30 | |
Great conversation with Carmen DeArdo. Carmen actually attended some of Deming’s lectures in the 1980’s when he worked for Bell Labs. He also discusses how he used Dr. Deming ideas in large insurance companies. | |||
| 18 Aug 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 16 - Dennis Schlagheck - Hawthorne Works | 00:45:12 | |
Dennis Schlagheck is the author of a book about Hawthorne Works ( https://bit.ly/37UGQoH ). We discuss all things related to the Western Electric Hawthorne factory. For those Deming geeks, this is where Dr. Deming spent two summers interning while he was in college. It's also where Walter Shewhart invented Statistical Process Control. Hawthorne was sort of like a modern-day Apple or Xerox PARC. You also had the Hawthorn Studies (famous Hawthorne Effect) coming out of thier in the 1920s. Dennis and I have had a great conversation about work, life, and, community at the factory from the early 1900s. This is a fantastic interview. | |||
| 23 Sep 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 17 - Botchagalupe - Deming Aha Moments | 00:41:55 | |
In this podcast, I just go off on a tangent about my Deming ideas. I've been listening to some old Deming podcasts where everyone is asked what was their aha moment when they learned about Deming. In an interview with Bob Brown, CEO of Great Plains Coca Cola Bottling Company, he remarked that he has never had a single aha moment in his life, it was a journey for him. I concur with myself; this is how I felt. To me, it seemed fitting to walk my aha journey. | |||
| 04 Oct 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 18 - Glenn Wilson - DevSecOps and Deming | 00:52:15 | |
In this episode I catchup with the author of the "DevSecOps: A leader’s guide to producing secure software without compromising flow, feedback and continuous improvement" book., Glenn Wilson. Glenn is an active participant in the DevOps and DevSecOps communities. He is also an emerging student of Dr. Deming. We talk about Glenn's Deming journey as well as how DevSecOps and Dr. Deming's work align well. Look for Glenn's book on Amazon. | |||
| 09 Oct 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 19 - Mark Burgess - Deming and Semantic Spacetime | 00:55:26 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by Mark Burgess. Mark founded CFEngine, Promise Theory, and Infrastructure as Code. Mark holds a Ph.D. in physics. He is an author of several books, including one of my favorites, "In Search of Certainty." He has been working on a project called the Semantic Spacetime Project for over a decade. I've known Mark for almost a decade now, and we always have a great time discussing important IT topics. In this episode, we discuss Dr. Deming's work through the lenses of complexity, non-determinism, and quantum physics. You can find all of Mark's work on his website ( http://markburgess.org/index.html ). | |||
| 12 Oct 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 20 - John Waraniak - Deming and Autonomous Indy | 00:49:02 | |
John Waraniak is my guest in this episode. John has over 25 years of experience in automotive, motorsports, aerospace, and consumer products. He has extensive experience in vehicle systems engineering, motorsports program management, and lean product development. When he was at General Motors, John worked directly with Dr. Deming. In addition, he studied under Peter Senge. This is a great interview. At Indianapolis Raceway, he will organize the first autonomous race later this month (Oct 2023). According to John, like many on this podcast, it all started with Dr. Deming. Check out his profile here: | |||
| 01 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 21- Steve Pereira - The Flow Collective | 00:45:40 | |
Steve and I talk about early DevOpsDays, Value Streams, Flow, Systems Thinking and of course Dr. Deming. Give talks about his thought about Dr. Deming's System of Profound Knowledge. We cover a lot of ground in this podcast. I'm sure you will enjoy it. You can find a link to all of the cool things Steve is working on here: | |||
| 03 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr. Deming - Episode 22 - Jabe Bloom - Theory of Knowledge | 00:56:58 | |
Jabe Bloom and I talk about Dr. Deming's Theory of Knowledge in this episode. We learn about pragmatism and epistemology from Jabe. As he proceeds, he mentions Dr. Shewhart's work at Hawthorne as well as Ohno and Lean, all related to Deming's System of Profound Knowledge lens of Theory of Knowledge. If you've enjoyed the podcast so far, you'll want to listen to this episode. Check out Jabe's work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabebloom/
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| 07 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 23- Paula Thrasher- Leadership at Scale | 01:01:16 | |
Paula is a veteran DevOps participant. She has managed some of the largest and most difficult transformations in our industry. I get the chance to pick Paula's brain about leadership at scale. | |||
| 17 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 24- Dominica DeGrandis- Making Work Visible | 00:48:07 | |
Dominica DeGrandis is my guest on this episode. In 2010, Dominica and I met at the first US DevOps Days. We discuss the early DevOps Days and the Kanban game in this episode. We also discuss her work on making work visible and the five thieves of time. Every time I speak with Dominica, it is always a great conversation. Here are a few links: | |||
| 17 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 25- Laksh Raghavan - More Epistemology (Part 1) | 00:27:12 | |
I met Laksh Raghavan through a Twitter dispute on Pragmatism and Epistemology. We decided to hop on a Zoom session to discuss it. After about 5 minutes I realized I was out of my element. Laksh really knew his stuff. We decided to do a podcast. This is the first part of a two-part series. We cover a lot of interesting ground regarding general philosophy, Pragmatism, Epistemology, and Systems Thinking. If you liked my previous podcast with Jabe Bloom should enjoy this podcast as well. | |||
| 17 Nov 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 26- Laksh Raghavan -More Epistemology (Part 2) | 00:45:00 | |
This is part 2 of my podcast with Laksh Raghavan. | |||
| 16 Dec 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 29 - 2021 Year End Wrap Up | 00:06:41 | |
This podcast is the last podcast of 2021 and marks the end of season #1. I do a quick overview and review of the podcast over the year. I wanted to thank the following guests: | |||
| 18 Dec 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 27- Tom Geraghty- Phycological Safety | 00:53:32 | |
I talked with Tom Geraghty in session. Physiological safety is Tom's passion. He tells me a bit about his journey with Dr. Deming. After that, we dive deep into the topic of physiological safety. It was a great session. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Tom’s Website | |||
| 19 Dec 2021 | Profound - Dr Deming - Episode 28- Andrew Clay Shafer - Organizational Learning | 01:00:10 | |
I get to chat with Andrew Clay Shafer in this episode. Andrew was one of the original pioneers of the DevOps movement. His presentation titled "There Is No Talent Shortage" has always been one of my favorite DevOps presentations. We talked about Andrew's background and how he got into Dr. Deming. He also spoke about his ideas about learning organizations and other interesting topics. It was a great way to end the season. For many years, Andrew has been a mentor and a friend to me. | |||
| 27 Jan 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming S2 E1 - Jesse Getzie - It's Ok To Be Not Ok (Part 1) | 00:35:10 | |
We discuss burnout in this episode (part 1). Jesse Getzie shares some of his recent "serious" burnout struggles. Burnout is a major problem in our industry. If Dr. Deming was alive today, I believe he would be a strong advocate for helping people understand this silent killer. If you need to reach us, Jesse and I are just a tweet, email, or phone call away. Email: jgetzie@gmail.com Twitter: @jessgetzie Linkedin: jessegetzie Emotions Anonymous National Alliance on Mental Health Open Sourcing Mental Illness Karōjisatsu — Death From Overwork Burnout in Information Security Understanding Burnout," Prof. Christina Maslach (U.C. Berkeley) Maslach Burnout Inventory REVERSING BURNOUT: How to rekindle your passion for your work Living With a Black Dog Stress and Depression - A taboo in our time | |||
| 27 Jan 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E2 - Jesse Getzie - It's Ok To Be Not Ok (Part 2) | 00:39:23 | |
We discuss burnout in this episode (part 2). Jesse Getzie shares some of his recent "serious" burnout struggles. Burnout is a major problem in our industry. If Dr. Deming was alive today, I believe he would be a strong advocate for helping people understand this silent killer. If you need to reach us, Jesse and I are just a tweet, email, or phone call away. Email: jgetzie@gmail.com Twitter: @jessgetzie Linkedin: jessegetzie Emotions Anonymous National Alliance on Mental Health Open Sourcing Mental Illness Karōjisatsu — Death From Overwork Burnout in Information Security Understanding Burnout," Prof. Christina Maslach (U.C. Berkeley) Maslach Burnout Inventory REVERSING BURNOUT: How to rekindle your passion for your work Living With a Black Dog Stress and Depression - A taboo in our time | |||
| 30 Jan 2022 | Profound - Dr Deming - S2 E3 - Chris Roberts - The Hacker Mentality | 00:41:54 | |
Chris Roberts is my guest on this episode. I have had the privilege of getting to know him over the past few years. I find him fascinating to talk with. Chris describes himself as a ... Hacker, InfoSec, Safety, Cyberstuff Researcher, Advisor, @Hacknotcrime henchman, and various other names in the technical world. Chris serves as a vCISO or advisor for several entities worldwide. We discuss his background and how our industry may have lost its soul. This episode is definitely worth listening to. Chris can be found at the following places: | |||