Provided by James R. Martin, Ph.D., CMA
Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida
Deming's Theory Main Page | Deming's
Theory Discussion Questions | Graduate MA Course
1. Deming was against management by objectives because this management approach
e. a., b. and c.
2. A predictable range of variation in the output of a particular worker occurs on a routine basis. This variation represents
a. common cause variation and is uncontrollable.
3. Assume the worker in the question above randomly adjusts the equipment involved hoping to improve the process. Deming’s theory tells us that
e. all of the above.
4. According to Deming’s theory, the variation caused by a worker’s random adjustments to his or her equipment represents
d. assignable cause variation and is controllable.
5. According to Deming’s theory, the variation caused by a worker’s random adjustments to his or her equipment represents
e. b. and c.
6. Joiner and Gaudard use the term structural variation in discussing Deming’s theory. This is
a. common cause variation and uncontrollable.
7. Deming used the red bead experiment to teach that
b. most of the variation in a system is common cause variation.
8. According to Deming, experience
c. teaches nothing without theory.
9. From Deming’s perspective, ranking a group of workers is a deadly disease because
e. it does all of the above.
10. Deming was opposed to
e. all of the above.
11. Which of the following is, or are consistent with Deming’s management theory?
b. consensus decisions.
12. According to Deming, voting on an issue tends to
c. promote sub-optimization.
13. Which of the following is not part of Deming’s Theory of Profound Knowledge?
b. Total quality management.
14. Deming’s red bead experiment shows how managers tend to make
a. Type I errors more often than Type II errors.
15. What was Deming’s view of the role of government?
b. To provide equity.
16. Deming endorsed and promoted which of the following?
d. SPC techniques.
17. Deming was critical of the zero defect concept associated with quality because
c. the concept does not promote continuous improvement towards a target value.
18. Deming was critical of the management by objectives concept because it
e. all of the above.
19. According to Deming, knowledge is created in the following sequence.
c. Theory, prediction, experience.
20. Which of the following practices is consistent with Deming's System of Profound Knowledge?
e. none of these.
21. The red bead experiment was designed to show that
c. common or random causes account for most of the variation in performance.
22. The funnel experiment, or demonstration, was designed to show
b. that tampering with a system will make performance worse rather than better.