Content by Harish Jose
PDCA and the Roads to RomeCan a lean purist and a Six Sigma purist reach the same answer to a problem?
Tue, 06/14/2016 - 15:32
In this article I want to look at the concept of equifinality in relation to the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. In systems theory, equifinality is defined as reaching the same end, no matter what the starting point was. This is applicable only in…
The Mother of Modern ManagementGetting to know Lillian Moller Gilbreth
Tue, 05/31/2016 - 13:11
May 8 was Mother's Day. In today's article I will be writing about somebody who has been called "The Mother of Modern Management" and "America's First Lady of Engineering." Many of this woman's concepts and ideas lend themselves really well to the…
The Order for KaizenDevelop the abilities of people first
Wed, 05/11/2016 - 18:07
Today I’d like to talk about kaizen—specifically, the order for kaizen. The term has come to mean “continuous improvement,” but kaizen originally translates from Japanese as “change for better.” To help clarify this useful concept, I’ll present…
Minimizing Harm, Maximizing HumanityA recognition that progress and ethics operate according to different logics
Wed, 12/10/2025 - 12:01
In this article I’m looking at a question that’s rarely asked in management. What if the most responsible course of action isn’t to maximize benefit, but to minimize harm? In decision theory, this is expressed as the minimax principle. The idea is…
On Diversity as a Cybernetic NecessityMachines and societies must maintain openness, embrace difference, and preserve the friction that keeps life viable
Wed, 12/03/2025 - 12:02
In this article, I want to explore an idea that often is framed in moral terms but is actually a cybernetic imperative: the necessity of diversity for viable systems. Whether we’re talking about societies, organizations, or even artificial…