Catching the next corporate wave?
Purdue University  Krannert Magazine

My first exposure to "corporate waves" began decades ago with the promises of "quality circles." (I graduated from Krannert in 1972, if you're trying to figure out when quality circles were around.) Thereafter, year after year, wave after wave hit the corporate beachhead. Waves, not unlike tsunamis, come with inspiring and convincing titles: the Total Quality wave, the waves of Edward Deming and his statistical approaches, Joseph Juran's measuring with a customer perspective, Tom Peters and the value of a continuous-improvement culture, then self-directed teams, reengineering, learning organizations, and lean approaches. Let's not forget APQP, TPS, 8D, black belts, fish, frogs, pickles, and, well, I'll let you fill in the rest - each industry had its own.

Without exception, each wave of programs left behind valuable flotsam and jetsam that corporate America used to achieve the quality and productivity improvements of the late 20th century.

As we begin the 21st century, business consultants and executives everywhere are looking for the first tsunami of the century. I, too, look forward to its arrival. However, while waiting for the next tsunami and at the same time reinforcing the key concepts left over from past waves, let's not forget the foundation upon which all of these programs rest...

Students learn ABC's of job success
The Monroe Evening News