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I don't think it's naivete or being a Pollyanna to assume most people
(could be ALL people!) want to make a contribution wherever they are!
Maslow said capacities clamor to be used, and they will not cease their
clamor. If they aren't used, for whatever reason, that clamor can get
channeled into all kinds of non-productive activity.


Yes, cynicism does seep in, and people begin to give up when there seems
to be no way to "be who they are" and make a contribution.

Well said. We should look for the obstacles to productivity outside the
person as well as inside. Deming said 85% of the problem is in "the
system." Why don't we look there even as we come down hard on the
non-workers?

Edryce

On 23 Oct 99, at 10:12, Edryce Reynolds wrote:


> Well said. We should look for the obstacles to productivity outside the
> person as well as inside. Deming said 85% of the problem is in "the
> system." Why don't we look there even as we come down hard on the
> non-workers?

Because, unfortunately, the "system" includes the society, which
we have little immediate control over.


>
> Edryce


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Robert,

On the contrary, we can definitely do something about "society" as the
larger system. Why do you think we can't?

Edryce

On Sat, 23 Oct 1999 15:54:19 -0500 Robert Bacal <rbacal@ESCAPE.CA>
writes:
>On 23 Oct 99, at 10:12, Edryce Reynolds wrote:
>
>
>> Well said. We should look for the obstacles to productivity outside
>the
>> person as well as inside. Deming said 85% of the problem is in "the
>> system." Why don't we look there even as we come down hard on the
>> non-workers?
>
>Because, unfortunately, the "system" includes the society, which
>we have little immediate control over.
>
>
>>
>> Edryce
>
>
>Visit the Business & Mgmt. Bookshelf - summaries of best books in HR,
>interviewing, leadership, motivation, training activities
>, and a number of other categories.
>Save time and money while finding the best books.
>http://members.xoom.com/topbooks

On 23 Oct 99, at 21:23, Edryce Reynolds wrote:

> Robert,
>
> On the contrary, we can definitely do something about "society" as the
> larger system. Why do you think we can't?

The issue isn't we as in everyone. The issue is in the person or
persons making decisions in business.

There is a difference between utopian thinking and dealing with
pragmatics, and given a choice between "changing society" or
increasing return to shareholders, which do you think most CEO's
are going to choose? Which should they choose?

Actually, interestingly enough, if you take Deming's thinking to a
larger context, if org. leaders are responsible for what happens in
their orgs (but not employees), then I suppose the only one
responsible and able to assume responsibility for the larger
systems in which orgs. are embedded is God.

He's generally tied up with things, though.


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