Carnival of Quality Management Articles – Page 2 – The world is too small? or Is it?

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – Volume X – May 2022 Edition

Welcome to May 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

The theme for the X^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is inspired from the editorial of the January 2022 special Issue of Prabuddha Bharata (The Awakened India) – Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

For our present episode, we take up the article, Digital Gods and Spiritual ®evolution by Swami Jnanishananda.

Here is the excerpt from the article:

AI can enhance our experience of physical world, by –

1. 1. pushing the biological limits to perform the task we are less equipped to handle, making us more effective and valuable in other areas of our lives.
  2. manipulating the minds positively (and even negatively too)
  3. providing the level playing field to the differently-abled and marginalized sections of the society
  4. better connectivity that overcomes physical limitations and reducing the barriers separating humans from each other and the physical universe.
  5. increased access to online (information) resource
  6. with advanced machine learning techniques, recording exponential improvements in the analytical and logical capabilities of AI to educated itself, we should see more aspects of human intelligence brought into scrutinising the human excellence in every field. Wisdom should finally take predominance over intellect.

However, the fundamental question we need to ask is whether AI has any moral obligation towards preserving humanity or not. AI has no moral foundation. It also has potential to manipulate the very goals that society would strive towards. However, in general, danger is not so much from AI or digital world itself than from a person’s natural propensity to look outside of oneself for fulfillment.

Use of intelligence in the term AI fits the dictionary meaning of intelligence – the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills – limits the objective descriptions of what a human being is capable of. However, the definitions set for by the ancient Vedic civilization limits these descriptions to into only a single aspect – intellect (buddhi)- of the intelligence.[1] Thus, Artificial Intellect would be a more accurate term to represent this technology.

If we explore knowledge, we find that lowest instrument of knowledge is instinct. Then comes reasoning. Even reason cannot take us beyond the question beyond our existence and that of universe. Logic becomes, to quote Swami Vivekananda, an ‘argument in circle.’ The instrument that can take us beyond this circle is inspiration. The realm of inspiration, lying beyond the intellect, is the true intelligence.

The body and mind should receive inspiration from the super-conscious realm leading to the goal of self-realization. Therefore, the AI and other digital ‘gods’ should be used to save our two precious resources, time and energy, so as to enable us to race through our journey from reason to inspiration., consciousness to super consciousness…….

We will now turn to our regular section -.

We now watch ASQ TV episode on –

The Elements and Challenges of a ‘We’ Culture – Luciana Paulise, author of The We Culture (ASQ Quality Press), discusses the CARE model for a culture of excellence and the challenges organizations face when transforming into a ‘We’ culture.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems:

Quality Professionals Must Lead – Communicate the economic case for quality – The technical questions in the cases of implementation of newer techniques by quality professionals conceal a deeper problem in their organization. Generally, that problems is that the senior management has a responsibility to question anything and everything that adds activities, time, cost, or transaction to their business. … Quality professionals would do well to lead the discussion by asking these questions first. In other words, the quality professionals need to follow the teachings of Dr. Armand Feigenbaum and Philip B Crosby, who told us that the language of management is quantified in monetary terms and related directly to the needs of the business. More so, in the current business climate….

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

Sixty Years in the Making – Imagining the future, technology, and automation – The stories that stand the test of time afford us a unique opportunity—to match the vision to reality…. Probably the most prolific examples of imaginary technology coming to fruition comes from a cartoon called The Jetsons, which premiered in 1962. Sixty years later, many of the “make-believe,” futuristic items used by this fictional family are a reality…for the most part. The family had a dog treadmill, talking alarm clocks, flat-screen TVs, watches that received phone calls, video chat, drones, robot vacuum cleaners, and digital newspapers. Unheard of in 1962, a reality in 2022…..While we may not have the ability, or the time, to fully predict the future, we can keep abreast of the technology and processes that can help us shape that future.

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

Note: The images or video clips depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images /videos.

[1] Intelligence and Intellect: What’s The Difference – Shekhar Kapur with Sadhguru

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – Volume X – April 2022 Edition

Welcome to April 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

For our present episode, we take up the article, Understanding deep sleep according to Upanishads by Swami Satyamayanand.

Here is the excerpt from the article:

Our sleeping and waking cycles are regulated by a complex sequence of physiological and neurological processes, known in common terms as biological clock and technically as circadian rhythm. In the old days going to sleep was like going into nidra mandir, the inner shrine of sleep. However, the excessive domination of digitalization in the day-to-day activities has upset the circadian rhythms not just for the mankind but also for the innumerable creatures.

Some of the pressing problems caused by the sleep deprivation are:

1. Negatively affected attention, intelligence, emotions, cognitions and memory.
2. Depression and anxiety
3. Gaining excess weight because of upsette4d endocrine system.
4. Heart disease
5. Diabetes
6. Lowered immunity
7. Increase in autoimmune diseases
8. Premature aging of skin.

As the darkness starts intensifying, secretion of melatonin starts through the pineal gland, signalling the start of sleep cycle. An average human being undergoes six stages of sleep cycles, each stage of varying time length.

The deep sleep occurs in stage three, known as Delta sleep, or slow-delta waves sleep or deep Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. This is the phase of the sleep which is restorative. It is very difficult to wakeup someone during this phase of sleep.

Psychologically, our ego is absent during the deep sleep, i.e., we seem to lose our identity during that period. When one one’s identity disappears, one experiences joy. This is also known as Nitya Pralaya, the Daily Dissolution.

More we sleep peacefully; more are the chances that we wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize our true nature as eternally free.

We will now turn to our regular section -.

We now watch ASQ TV episode on –

The Rise of Remote Audits – Sheronda Jeffries identifies the similarities and differences of remote and in-person auditing in this ASQTV episode.
- The Changing Role of Remote Audits and Additional Resources – Sheronda Jeffries discusses how the role of remote audits has evolved since 2019, resources to use, and the future of remote audits.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems:

Regrets – The regrets are the emotions of wishing we had made a different decision. …The consequence of the decision may have adversely affected something or had a negative impact in some way. So, we generally have regrets caused by the outcomes of our mistakes…. Regrets exude great quantities of negative energy. We have the opportunity to point that energy in positive, productive directions. … So, we made a mistake last time. We need to learn from it and let our regrets be a reminder to do much better next time. … Regrets present us with compelling truths that are impossible to deny or ignore. We need to utilize those truths to create new achievement and fulfilment.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

From Every Theory in Moderation? – or Firing the Silver Bullet? – The real life is all about hunting for an answer to everything, a real chance to find a sliver bullet. The moot point is what indicators you choose to study the situation for which you hunt for an answer…. at the root of the question—beyond the approach of either moderation or singularity—are the “indicators,” and using them efficiently and correctly. Same is true in quality. As authors Yves Van Nolan and Grace Duffy write, “Some doubt the value of KPIs (key performance indicators) as a tool for business or organization process management. The use of KPIs helps management make correct decisions. However, the way KPIs are used by most organizations is far from perfect.”

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

Note: The images or video clips depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images /videos.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – Volume X – March 2022 Edition

Welcome to March 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

For our present episode, we take up the article, Knowledge Revolution in the Digital Age – Human Knowledge at Crossroads by Swami Atmapriyananda.

Here is the excerpt from the article:

With the advent of the digital age, the boundaries of human knowledge seeming to be breaking down a, as the language through which the human knowledge expresses itself has been deconstructed and digitalised. This transition has affected generation previous to Gen X, GenY, GenZ and the Gen Alpha quite differently…. As can be expected Gen Z seem to have remarkably developed skills of working in a coordinated fashion between ‘work’ and the internet. The more demanding than the technical skill of this coordination is need for developing the soft skill of solving complex problems with a humane approach. This, in effect, calls for a paradoxical mixture of fierce resolve of professional will and persuasive softness of personal humility.[1]

The new-found emphasis on multiple intelligences seems to converge with panch kosha – five sheaths of annamaya (The food), pranamaya (The vital energy or breath) , manomaya (The mind), vijnaanmaya (The intellect) and anandmaya (The bliss ), each having its own Chetana – the intelligence.

The knowledge in the digital age also has seamlessly integrated the two streams of jnana (the knowledge) and the action (karma). The interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches have revived the vison of ancient Indian Rishis of integrated, unified knowledge (akhanda advaita). Also getting revived is the Upanashidic idea of higher knowledge (para-vidya) and lower knowledge (apara-vidya) both need to be equally cultivated and is found in the concept of knowmad [2] who is the unified version of digital age ‘nerd’ and ‘geek’ personalities. Knowmads are a different species than knowledge workers and knowledge seekers. They are seamless, unrestricted, open and free, capable of and enjoying swimming courageously on a voyage over an uncharted sea. The vulnerability and flexibility of thought and the ease of navigation and action are the products of unique revolution of the ‘Digital Age’.

For the knowmads, a job is a position, mere form of employment and the work is long term in scope and relates to creation of meaningful outcomes. Thus, for them work is distinct from a career. A career ‘carries’ a person through the life, whereas work is a collection of activities that are backed with elements that are purposive at the individual level. The personal knowledge consists of explicit element, conveyed as information and the tacit element, developed through experience and experimentation. To remain competitive, a knowmad must continuously learn, unlearn and refine what they know. Organizations need to create environment that supports expansion of knowledge ecology to keep the knowmads motivated.

As such, the knowmad society requires new mindsets that encourage greater leadership form all stakeholders – at personal, organizational and policy levels. This is more than an attitude that supportive of knowmads but requires a fundamental cultural transformation to embrace new approaches to the purposive use of individual knowledge with strong social supports to help each one to maximise his /her potential without fear of failure.

We will now turn to our regular section -.

We now watch ASQ TV episode on –

The Quality Professional’s Changing Workplace – This episode investigates how the global pandemic and digital transformation are changing the quality professional’s workplace

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems

Change Reality – Reality is what you make of it. Life is defined by the way you choose to live it. So…if it doesn’t fit your expectations, make adjustments suitably. …. i.e., accept the way things are. They are what they are. …. To change your reality, change your expectations and work toward a new reality. …Give your sincere best in every moment, in every situation. Slowly, but surely, your current reality will become your new reality. How quickly that happens depends on many factors, much of which is under your control and influence. Begin today to make your reality of tomorrow achievable. You can determine the greatness that lies within.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

Environmental Influences – Accelerating evolution, delivery apps, and handicapping – Acceleration can happen through conscious thought or natural reaction, it can wind up being positive or negative, and is part of a large host of things happening on our planet and in our societies…. However, it is a the battle between the irresistible force versus the immovable object – the evolutionary tendency of human being to change, and change fast versus inherent nature of environmental influences to allow the changes to evolve.

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

Note: The images or video clips depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images /videos.

[1] Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve – Jim Collins, HBR, I January 2001.

[2] The Paradox of a Knowmad: Daring Not to Know

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – Volume X – February 2022 Edition

Welcome to February 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

For our present episode, we take up the article, Living safely in the digital way of life, by Swami Satyapriyananda.

Here is the excerpt from the article:

The principle behind a happy, contended spiritual life is to take care of our needs avoid luxuries. In the digital way of living this can be interpreted as installing and using only those apps that you (really) need. This can be better done when the influence of digital way of living is understood so as to use digital way of living safely and effectively. For that purpose, the article discusses basics of a few aspects of the digital way of living:

Digital World: The digital world is about processing ‘data’ and generating digital ‘information’ for the fast access from a variety of sources, for fast communication between people or machines (objects) and fast decision making. We got connected with the rest of the world very easily and very fast, too. However, a family though seated together has each of its member lost in his or her digital addiction.

The Ecosystem of the Digital World: The ecosystem of the digital world comprises of devices (hardware) of different types and types for running different software(s) the internet, cloud computing sever data centers, actuators, sensors and the devices connected through them, a variety of gadgets like cameras, autonomous vehicles like drones, robots and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software(s) running over all of them. Most of the apps are very intuitive and deceptively simple in the hands of the users, But the design and build of these apps are very complex. So has been the modern life too, on one hand it has become very simple, with the help of this ecosystem, but had become over complex also because of the overpowering presence of that very ecosystem.

Artificial Intelligence: AI is software that really has made the devices really smart, by mimicking how the humans think. However, AI algorithms, inherently, encode their programmer’s biases and prejudices as well.

The discussion of all components of the ecosystem would be too complex and lengthy to be covered in an article like the present one.

The usage of digital way of living is becoming almost all pervasive with different e-applications like e-Governance, e-banking, e-healthcare, e-communication like smart chats or virtual video conferences, e-education, e-supply chains, e-maps and positioning, digital photography and video making and sharing, etc.

The biggest trap to lure the user to the app is making it available as free. In order to pay for that ‘free’ service, monetizing of the end-applications has led to abuses like usage of personal data for targeted advertising, pushing political, religious or social agendas or fake news and rumors, fraudulent usages, and intrusions into the one’s privacy. Has any lunch ever been free in its true sense?

Using these devices and the apps is like riding a tiger by its tail. A small error or oversight can lend the user into major financial loss apart from the loss of one’s critical data and privacy or using it too much can lead to various disease from eye problems or muscular strains to even depression

The golden rule(s) to live safely in the digital way of living are:

- - Input the barest minimum personal data to achieve one’s legitimate needs.
  - Keep distance from seductive offers
  - Be your own master of your time and your execution plans.
  - Stop all types of auto-notifications. Never carry your phone with you when you eat or sleep.
  - Do religiously follow the applicable guideline for safe and secure us of the app, as provided by the app provider.

The Bitter Truth that we need to remember on the Way Forward is that we, the human beings are indeed conditioned by external stimuli, as are these devices by the embedded software. But, then we have a mind of our own, not like those devices which are just dumb machines. In the name of (fast changing technological) progress, we should not surrender the unimaginable powers of our mind to that dumb machine.

One must set before oneself the goal of each phase of one’s life and an ideal to follow. Use the beneficial features of the digital way of life only to the extent that takes us forward in the life-long endeavor. Also, do ensure that these smart devices do not use us – our energies, our time and our life.

In other words, the way forward in live safely in the digital way of life is out smart the smart devices.

The search for the present day contexts of staying safe in the digital life, one will find several meaningful and updated articles on protecting yourself in digital world, with variations like tips to safe against cybercrime, or tips to stay safe online. One may find very useful discussions at platforms like TED.com, like -.

Get ready for hybrid thinking – TED 2014 – Ray Kurzweil
How to protect your mental well-being online — from a Gen-Zer – TED Salon –UINICEF – Peachy Liv
The importance of emotional tone in the digital age – TED@IBM – Kareem Yusuf
How to be “Team Human” in the digital future– TED Salon: Samsung – Douglas Rushkoff

We will now turn to our regular sections in 2022 too.

We now watch ASQ TV episode on–

Changing World, Adapting Improvement Models (Lean and Six Sigma) – Jay Patel, Founder, CEO, and President, QPS, discusses the fundamentals of both Lean and Six Sigma methodologies and how to determine which tool your organization or project can benefit most from.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems :

Focus on What’s Important – If wait until the things get perfect, that day will never come. If we use what we have, howsoever flawed or imperfect as it may seem, we will soon be on the way to making substantial improvements. … All we must do is to start from where we are, with what we have and persistently do what we must do. “All you can do is all that you can do, but that all that you can do is enough.” There is no limit to where one can progress if we break our self-imposed barriers.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

Indecision: From Aristotle and Buridan to Metastability and Digital Circuits – Aristotle is said to have sarcastically asserted to the version that the earth is stationary because it being spherical, all forces acting equally from all direction, renders it motionless by the famous statement that the assertion “was as ridiculous as saying that a man, being just as hungry as thirsty, and placed in between food and drink, must necessarily remain where he is and starve to death.”,

Similarly, Buridian paradox of free will’s donkey starves to death because he remains indecisive to choose which of the bale placed at equal distance to choose.

Michael Hauskeller, an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Exeter , explains by providing examples and scenarios that suggest that based on our experiences, feelings, and preferences, we must have a reason, known or unknown, for our decisions. And the biggest reason for having to decide, one way or the other, is reality, or time.

To help with decisions on the shop floor, Bill Tandler suggests we turn to GD&T. from Grim, Depressing & Troublesome into Grand, Delightful & Tantalizing,”

[Editorial note: When we outsmart the smart devise, we turn the digital way of life into GD&T, Grand, Delightful & Tantalizing way of life.]

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

Note: The images or video clips depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images /videos.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – Volume Xth – January 2022 Edition

Welcome to January 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

The intention is not to suggest that (quality (management) professionals ought to develop a philosophical approach to the practice of management. The purpose here is only to offer an altogether a different approach than the different technological or management views with which we have been conditioned.

Digital technologies are shaping every sphere of human life. In his book, What technology wants? Kevin Kelly says that ten thousand years ago, humanity reached a turning point where our ability to modify the biosphere exceeded the planet’s ability to modify us. This threshold was the beginning of the Technium, which is said to be the accumulation of inventions that humans have created. We are now at a second inflection point, where the situation has reversed and the ability of the Technium to modify us exceeds our capacity to alter it.

It is in this continuously influenced world, the goal of the individual needs to be live कृतकृत्य, kṛtakṛtya – do what must be done – life. If put in different words, human pursuits, including the technological ones, ought to be able keep developing faculties of sustained acquisition of knowledge (or experience) that keeps life capable enough enables to differentiate what is real and what is non-real, what keeps our feet rooted to the world that is compassionate, with basic human ethical and spiritual values and what will keep us afloat in virtual world that may give us ephemeral comforts.

[The full editorial containing the details of the point of view, Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World, by Swami Vireshananda, can be read by clicking on the hyperlink.]

I plan to devote the entire next year’s X^th volume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs to present the key articles of this Prabuddha Bharata issue as the base to explore how can anyone in general, and quality professionals in particular, can lead a meaningful life in the world of information overload. However, anyone desirous of reading the complete January 2022 issue Prabuddha Bharata can access the same @ Read Online link or can purchase the single issue @ https://shop.advaitaashrama.org/product/prabuddha-bharata-jan-2022/ . The brief outline of the special issue is @ https://youtu.be/JpeWb69RneA

Some More readings on the subject:

Living A Meaningful Life In A Digital World, Talk By Vireshananda, Dec 19, Organized By RVSP Manila
What Makes Life Meaningful: Michael Steger at TEDxCSU
Discovering the Meaning of Life in the Digital Age | Melvin Poh | TEDxAIMSTUniversity
Eckhart Tolle | Digital Age: Living with Meaning, Purpose & Wisdom | Talks at Google
Living a Meaningful Life: Using All Our Senses | Oliver Yeh | TEDxMSJHS
Digital ethics and the future of humans in a connected world | Gerd Leonhard | TEDxBrussels
Elves, Ethics & The Digital World | Don Heider | TEDxPurdueU

We will continue with our regular sections in 2022 too.

We now watch ASQ TV episode on–

Dr. Deming’s Legacy and Continued Relevancy for Quality Professionals – W. Edward Deming’s influence spans the 20th century and as you’ll hear from Steve Prevette, ASQ Fellow and college instructor, Dr. Deming’s teachings are still invaluable today- and even tomorrow.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems :

Leadership Traits – The key to successful leadership in today’s environment is influence, not authority – Most people might agree that leadership is the ability to induce people to do, willingly and well, what someone wants and expects them to do. Certain traits seem to be inherent in most effective leaders.

Integrity: Integrity is more than being trustworthy and honest. A person with integrity is someone ethical with high morals and principles, in what he says and what he does, even under the most trying circumstances.
Trustworthy: Effective leaders are honest in their dealings with people. They can be counted on to follow through on their commitments every time. Their word is their bond.
Professional character: They treat people with courtesy and dignity. They realize a person’s worth is not related to position. Effective leaders take time to care about people.
Fairness: …fair rules, fair tasks, fair competition, fair discipline, etc.
Tactful: It is almost impossible to obtain willingly positive responses from people if their leaders “rub them the wrong way” unnecessarily.
Persistence: Leaders must stay with problems and situations because, to evoke the desired response from people.
Consistency: Good leaders have a proper balance of mental, emotional, and physical characteristics so people can adapt to their leadership style.
Show Interest: Effective leaders have a sincere interest in people…. interest in their problems, progress, hopes, ideas, likes and dislikes. Effective leaders know that people tend to be drawn to, and respond to, those who demonstrate an interest in them.
Lead by Example: Leaders need to set the example for others to model.
Communication: Communication skills enable a leader to connect with others to build and maintain healthy relationships.
Positive: Coming in every day with a positive attitude, a “can do” spirit gives people confidence in the leader, the organization and work being performed.
Gratitude: Effective leaders demonstrate loudly and often to those who give of themselves to support the group’s success.
Accountable: Effective leaders take full accountability when their team fails regardless of where mistakes were made or whose performance was lacking.
Desire: To have “courage” they need to have confidence that is gained by being fully prepared. Being fully prepared comes from desire, commitment, and hard work, most often when no one else is around.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

The Benefits of Automation – The five reasons to consider, and have been considered for decades, about automation

Reduces time and energy
Saves money in long run.
Accuracy
Improved production workflow.
Reduces waste.

[Editorial Note: This is the classic conditioned outlook of technologically and managerially conditioned thought process. We plan to explore why and what of ways of broad basing this outlook in the year 2022.]

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Living a Meaningful Life in a Digital World.

Note: The images or video clips depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images /videos.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – December 2021

Welcome to December 2021 edition of the IX^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

We recapitulate that the 2021 theme for the IX^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Our topic for the discussion for the month is – The Future Sustainability – with a view to present a broader picture of the issue that has been gaining higher priority everywhere.

It is now well accepted that: Sustainability is meeting our own (present) needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is also well accepted that sustainability is not just environmental-ism. Sustainability rests on dynamic balance of three dimensions economic development, social equity, and environment conservation, not necessarily in that order.

The UN’s adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in the year 2015, has laid the concrete foundation for the roadmap for a sustainable future.

The UN’s aspirational SDGs were “a great gift to humanity” when they were adopted, but much work is still needed to develop science-based pathways to show how they can be effectively and equitably implemented, said Nebojsa “Naki” Nakicenovic, professor emeritus at the Vienna University of Technology and former deputy director general of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The World in 2050 (TWI2050) seeks to make the aspirational SDGs more practical and equitable.

The Science of Sustainability is a science-based view that provides cross-sector collaboration between environment conservation and growing human needs across traditionally disconnected sectors, and on a near unprecedented scale.

Six emerging sustainability trends are identified for the present decade[1]:

Sustainability as a way of doing business
Embracing accountability and importance of being transparent
Education is the key in building awareness
Collaboration between the public and private
Innovation is imperative
Rise of the circular economy.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – November 2021

Welcome to November 2021 edition of the IX^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

We recapitulate that the 2021 theme for the IX^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Our topic for the discussion for the month is – The Future of Climate Change – with a view to present a broader picture of the issue that has been gaining higher priority at the strategy planning meetings of every (responsible) business.

Climate Change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.^[1]

A view of the high Norwegian Arctic in 2015. There is alarming evidence that important tipping points, leading to irreversible changes in major ecosystems and the planetary climate system, may already have been reached or passed. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

The Tipping Point | Climate Change: The Facts | BBC Earth

A tipping point is where even a slight amount of warming can move the climate into an irreversible state.

Source: Otto, I.M. (4 February 2020). “Social tipping elements for stabilizing climate by 2050”

Depending on global economic trends, technological progress, geopolitical developments, and most important, how aggressively we act to reduce carbon emissions, the world at the end of the 21st century could turn out to be radically different. Or not….Five future climate scenarios underpin the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report tell radically different stories about humanity’s future.Sup<[2]

The November edition of the Goal of the Month editorial looks at Goal 13 (Climate Action) of the Global Goals

Additional reading:

We now watch ASQ TV, wherein we refresh our viewpoints about World Quality Day (the second Thursday of November) –

Building Community and Getting Results : World Quality Day and World Quality Month enable a broader reach for quality awareness – shining an international spotlight on its significance.

Note: This year’s theme is “Sustainability: Improving Our Products, People, and Planet.” The emphasis will be on the importance of quality in sustainability and its influence on environmental, social, and governance (ESG).

Note: I plan to take up THE FUTURE part of this video for discussion in our next episode of December 2021.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems this month:

Overcome Your Inner Critic – Beware of the inner critic, which can be a super villain preventing creativity – In the modern world, fear has become insidious; it is quiet but pervasively accepted as existing. One of the most common forms is what might be referred to as the inner critic…Like all faces of fear, the inner critic is a part of each of us that is designed to keep us safe. …If we can overcome our inner critic, new ideas begin to flow freely, and new possibilities emerge…. Successful people discover what matters most to them. Once that becomes clear, they work to replace their inner critic with an inner support mechanism to nurture their efforts.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

Go-To, There When We Need It – The meaning of the imperative go to, four centuries ago, as used in William Shakespeare drama ‘Macbeth’, was “beat it,” now “geddoutahere”….. And in our time, go-to has come to be defined as “a person or thing that may be relied on or is regularly sought out in a particular situation.” It’s not difficult to see how the term came about—the person or thing you “go to” when you need it…. And the term is not limited to people. We may have a go-to tool to get the job done, or even a go-to food when we are feeling blue or want to celebrate.

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Note: The images depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images.

^[1] Global Issues: Climate Change

^[2] 5 possible climate futures—from the optimistic to the strange – Madeleine Stone

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – October 2021

Welcome to October 2021 edition of the IX^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

We recapitulate that the 2021 theme for the IX^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Our topic for the discussion for the month is – The Profiles of Future – The World without Distance

Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible by Arthur C. Clarke – originally appeared in 1962, is an anthology of essays written by Arthur C Clarke during the period 1959 – 1961. Since it was concerned with ultimate possibilities, It has under gone two revisions, in 1971 and 1999. As such the latest 1999 revision does not contain several portions of the original text.

I plan to take up a more detailed look at the book in some time next year. For the purpose of our present episode, we will briefly take a look at some of the predictions Arthur C Clarke has to make about the Future of Work (in 2050) and a few representative current views. –

Arthur C. Clarke Predicted the Future of Remote and Flexible Work in 1964 By Jennifer Parris – With regards to remote working, Arthur Clarke believed that almost any skill, from executive or administrative, to even physical skills, would be possible to perform remotely, regardless of distance. This sentiment shows that Clarke already envisioned the workplace to be a mobile one, not one reliant upon people being together in an office to perform their jobs.

For a more comprehensive look at how working from home came to be (starting with the hunter-gatherers as the earliest at-home workers!), read FlexJobs post on’ “The Complete History of Working from Home.”

Here are some more additional readings on the subject:

BBC Horizon is a widely acclaimed TV show of BBC, One of the episodes of that show, in 1964, presented Artur C Clarke’s predictions of the future. Here is that episode:

BBC Horizon (1964) with Arthur C. Clarke –

(Part 1 of 2)

Part 2 of 2

[Note: BBC Horizon Collection – 512 Episodes – can be accessed at https://archive.org/details/BBCHorizonCollection512Episodes

The big debate about the future of work, explained

3 myths about the future of work (and why they’re not true) | Daniel Susskind

New Profiles of the Future: The World in 2050 and beyond, with Lord Martin Rees

How do we find dignity at work? – Roy Bahat and Bryn Freedman | Ted Salon” Zebra Technologies

Roy Bahat wondered, what was AI doing to the people whose jobs might change, go away or become less fulfilling? The question sent him on a two-year research odyssey to discover what motivates people, and why we work. In this conversation with curator Bryn Freedman, he shares what he learned, including some surprising insights that will shape the conversation about the future of our jobs.

How will we earn money in future without jobs? – Martin Ford | TED 2017

We now watch ASQ TV, wherein we refresh our viewpoints about–

Intelligent Automation for Quality Professionals – Christy Mazzarisi, Global Quality Officer, Rational Vaccines, explains intelligent automation and how a project she recently completed digitally transformed an organization.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems this month

Productive Failures – Failure can provide the seeds for success.- In a productive failure, you do not achieve your objective, but you come away with new knowledge that will increase your chances of future success. A non-productive success occurs when you achieve your objective, but you are not sure what you did right. You can build on productive failures. You can’t build on non-productive failures….The more productive failures experienced, the more you’ll learn….When bad things happen, first think, “Darn, that is really disappointing.” Then quickly think, “How can I turn this into something useful?”

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have –

Serendipity, A Meaningful Connection? – Serendipity is “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” – a happy coincidence or more like a “meaningful connection.” ….. It is something like listening a song for the first time and catching that meaningful lyric, or the emotion of a melody, that spoke to you in that very moment….. Quality hopes to provide with that same sense of serendipity…………….

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Note: The images depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – September 2021

Welcome to September 2021 edition of the IX^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

We recapitulate that the 2021 theme for the IX^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Our topic for the discussion for the month is – The Future of Work.

How the World of Work is Changing – The workplace of today looks dramatically different to the workplace of yesteryear. Besides obvious technological changes – computers replacing typewriters and machines replacing people – social change has ushered more women into what used to be predominantly a man’s world.

To review the full study please visit – https://www.nextgeneration.ie/blog/2016/04/how-the-world-of-work-is-changing and also view the infographic presented there.

The 5 Trends Shaping the Future of Work – Jacob Morgan – Everything we know about the future of work is being shaped by five trends: globalization, technology, changing demographics, new behaviors, and mobility. For the first time these five trends are coming together to force organizations to change the way they think about how work gets done.

The big debate about the future of work, explains why economists and futurists disagree about the future of the labor market.

The future of work: is your job safe? | The Economist – This is the workforce of the future. Technology is transforming the world of work beyond all recognition creating groundbreaking opportunities. But it’s also eroding the rights of workers. Some even fear a dystopian jobless future. But are these anxieties overblown? How we react to this brave new world of work today will shape societies for generations to come. What are the forces shaping how people live and work and how power is wielded in the modern age? NOW AND NEXT reveals the pressures, the plans and the likely tipping points for enduring global change.

The Future of Work – A CQI Quality Futures Report talks about the effects of digitalisation in the workplace, helping every working person and the organisation to proactively address these issues in the relevant management strategies.

The downloadable copy of this report is available @ https://www.quality.org/future-of-work

Transitioning to the future of work and the workplace – A Deloitte survey (sponsored by Facebook) asked C-suite executives for their perspectives on the future of work. Their responses reveal six themes about the future workplace—and six lessons to help leaders ease the transition.

1: Pay attention to culture; help ensure leaders actively participate in its development and dissemination.

2: Companies should be proactive in creating greater transparency in communications and new systems, and policies and reinterpreting their corporate culture around digital in the workplace, or they risk losing employees, productivity, and, potentially, customers.

3: To keep Millennials, companies should place greater emphasis on nurturing and developing their people, creating interesting and purposeful work, and building an environment with career flexibility and tools that enable employees to collaborate and exchange ideas transparently.

4: Business benefits are real—this is about getting things done

5: Start the shift to new collaboration tools but help ensure workplace practices and employee expectations are aligned with the new capabilities that are available.

6: Leaders can often underestimate the benefits of social tools at work⁸ and need to be educated in how to use collaboration and business social tools for improved communication, collaboration, and connectivity.

The downloadable copy of the report is available @ https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/HumanCapital/gx-hc-us-cons-transitioning-to-the-future-of-work-and-the-workplace.pdf

Some more videos: for further study:

What will future jobs look like? | Andrew McAfee
How we’ll earn money in a future without jobs | Martin Ford
The Future of Work | SingularityU Germany Summit 2017

We now watch ASQ TV, wherein we refresh our viewpoints about–

Readying Yourself for Digital Transformation Initiatives – Richard Uphoff, Manager & Registered Principal Responsible (RPR), Vanguard, discusses skills needed for digital transformation, lessons learned from 25 years of challenging initiatives, and the need to learn how to learn.

We have taken up one article from Jim L. Smith’s Jim’s Gems this month

Enhancing Effectiveness – If you do not feel very effective or productive while at work, it can lead to a downward spiral. Chances are you can work far more effectively than you are now and put yourself into an upward trend.

One way is to take control of your time and manage it as well as possible. Try keeping a log for a week or two and track every minute of your day at work, then analyze it. Next, develop strategies for eliminating time traps and time wasters that are pulling you away from achieving your goals

Another good opportunity is to stay current with the technical innovations in your business or industry by reading latest books, periodicals, etc.

A third suggestion is to expand the network of people who can stimulate and support you.

‘From the Editor’ (of Quality Magazine) – by Darryl Sealand, we have-

Answers & Questions – We’ve all seen movies where the leader inspires his or her team with a moving speech and a call to action. But one characteristic is usually absent.

“Have you ever seen them ask any questions? They just know what to do,”

And that is important for all involved—leaders, followers, associates, suppliers, stakeholders. Asking questions and searching for feedback provides the confidence of knowing everyone is on the same page.

I look forward to your views / comments / inputs to further enrich the theme of Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Note: The images depicted here above are through courtesy of respective websites who have the copyrights for the respective images.

Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs – August 2021

Welcome to August 2021 edition of the IX^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

We recapitulate that the 2021 theme for the IX^thvolume of our Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs is Future of… as the basis for Creating and Maintaining Sustained Success.

Our topic for the discussion for the month is – The Future of Quality – Management – Profession.

Past is rear-view of the driving a vehicle, present the dashboard and future is the windshield. For safe and effective driving all the three views have their own role to play.

The paper, Quality: past, present and future, published by Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), essentially, addresses the concepts and approaches the way the quality profession worked and that have inspired its thinking, as well the trends that can be observed currently to look at the future where man and technology can work together. The focus of quality is set to expand to include quality of life, which is best reflected in what Edward de Bono said, “the quality of our thinking will determine the quality of our future”.

The concept of “quality” has evolved to mean far more than the integrity of a manufactured product. Quality now represents a philosophy, a system of methodologies and practices, and an ongoing commitment to business excellence that encompasses all issues – and engages all individuals – within an organization…..The challenge for quality managers moving into the future is largely about allowing for change in a field that relies on constants. While so much attention today is paid to the bottom line, quality has a profound impact on the top line as well –remaining fluid to recognize, respond to and anticipate customer wants and needs to drive satisfaction and loyalty – a focus that grounds the future firmly in the concepts taught by the original quality leaders over 60 years ago.[1]

The five research themes of the Quality 2030 agenda together with the positive core of QM[2]

The focus of quality will have to shift from the quality tools to the overall business success…. to lead organizational change from the macro level…with the help of business models free of foreseeable risk and committed to business excellence at all levels.[3]

Welcome to January 2022 edition of the Xth volume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.

Welcome to January 2022 edition of the X^thvolume of Carnival of Quality Management Articles and Blogs.