Question

Which of the following practices seems to agree most with Deming's notions of "adopting a new philosophy" of doing business?

1) Continuous improvement
2) Cost-cutting measures
3) Short-term focus
4) Hierarchical decision-making

Answer 1

Continuous improvement most aligns with Deming's philosophy of business, promoting long-term quality management over short-term gains and hierarchical decisions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the practices listed, continuous improvement aligns most closely with Deming's philosophy of business. W. Edwards Deming was a proponent of quality management principles and promoted a philosophy that emphasizes long-term thinking, quality improvement, and viewing the organization as a system. Continuous improvement, or Kaizen, is a core aspect of Deming's work and centers on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap significant improvements. Contrary to practices such as cost-cutting measures, short-term focus, and hierarchical decision-making, continuous improvement is a systemic approach that engages everyone in an organization to strive for betterment in all processes.

This philosophy stands in stark contrast to short-term focus and cost-cutting measures which may temporarily improve financial metrics but often do so at the expense of quality and sustainability. Similarly, hierarchical decision-making can conflict with Deming's principles of worker empowerment and cross-functional collaboration.