From the birth of modern industry, to winning WWII, to Japan’s Economic Miracle, W. Edwards Deming helped shape some of the most profound moments in modern history. Deming, an American engineer and statistician, is widely recognized for his contributions to the field of quality management. But his teachings go beyond quality management; they influence not only how we work today, but also how we can continue to succeed into the future.
Part business history, part biography, part journey into deep business sense, author John Willis captures the full picture of Deming’s life and influence. Most importantly, it reveals the experiences that led to Deming’s greatest discovery: the System of Profound Knowledge, a collection of fundamental truths that show how any system or process can be transformed into something greater.
From the real-life Rosie the Riveter to a hacker writing US cybersecurity law, Deming’s ingenuity and system of thinking changed how we think in the modern world. This book shows how we can take that influence and continue to apply it our own future.
“A thoroughly entertaining and educational look at Deming, a man whose insights are fundamental to modern software development. This book includes delightful stories of those around Deming who influenced his work and helped create the foundation for agile and DevOps."
“John Willis has crafted a delightful and insightful book that brings to life the personal story of W. Edwards Deming and how he created a tremendous impact in the world through his theory of profound knowledge. In this book, you'll go beyond the theory and principles to discover the human experience that has led to some of the greatest organizational successes in the past century. Deming’s Journey to Profound Knowledge is a must-read for any student of Lean, Agile, quality, the Toyota Production System, and continuous improvement—or any leader who seeks to create a culture of excellence in their organization.”
“John Willis has looked deep into Dr. Deming’s history and teachings and profoundly explains his profound knowledge. Read this book and you will understand like never before the wisdom and sound advice of Dr. Deming.”
“John has read everything available about Deming and has woven the many threads of Dr. Deming’s life into a work of love. The result is a very pleasant fable that will prompt the novice reader to want to know more. While experts will have differing views on Deming’s work and contribution to management science, there is no doubt that the IT community can only benefit from learning about Deming’s work. John’s book is a step in this direction.”
