February 2005, Volume 2
New Article from Donald J. WheelerExperimentation, Randomization, and Observational Studies
February 2005, Volume 2
New Article from Donald J. WheelerExperimentation, Randomization, and Observational Studies
In this short essay, I examine the inherent limitations of experimental studies, the role of randomization, and the need for observational studies to complete any experimental program. This progression sheds light on the reasons why traditional statistical techniques are taught as they are and why this approach is not completely satisfactory in business and industry.
New Seminar from Donald J. Wheeler...Practical Data Anyalysis
Doing Sigma 6 Better
Are you tired of traditional classes in theoretical statistics? This new seminar is taught from the perspective of data analysis, not academic statisticians. Clients tell us that Dr. Wheeler's new book, The Six Sigma Practitioner's Guide to Data Analysis, is meeting a real need—and here is the class that they've been asking for.
Topics include:
New Releases from SPC Press…
Now available online: www.spcpress.com
Traditional textbooks fail to provide an overall approach for the analysis of data, while
typical training classes focus on techniques without telling you how to choose between
those techniques for a particular analysis. This book is the remedy for both of these
problems. Here, the various techniques are organized according to the type of analysis
problem, making it easy to select an appropriate analysis technique. Moreover, this is
the first text to integrate the techniques of SPC with the traditional techniques of
statistical inference. By placing these various analysis techniques side by side and using
them on the same data sets, the reader can see how to gain the maximum insight with the
least effort.
424 pages. Hardback. Introductory Price of $70.00
This thought-provoking story illustrates what ought to occur in organizational changes.
But reality rarely follows theory, and research suggests the majority of change programs
are quickly tweaked beyond recognition (and many are abandoned) within two years. The
primary reason is purely cultural. As this fictional company tries to solve a complex
problem with hastily applied Quality Management and Six Sigma tools, the effects of
organizational culture and politics get in the way. As readers watch TPT, Inc. go from one
worst case scenario to another, most will find something that resonates. This may be the
first book to provide a foundational management theory for an integrated implementation
of Quality Management and Six Sigma.
192 pages. Paperback. $22.00
In Memory
Dr. H. Alan Lasater…We regret to announce the death of Dr. Alan Lasater on January 13, 2005 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alan was born and raised in Tennessee. During his undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. In 1968 he was awarded his Ph.D. from Rutgers University.
He began his career with the University of Tennessee in 1958, where he was a popular professor and also served in several administrative positions. In 1972, he was a founding member of “The Institute for Productivity through Quality at UTK. In 1984, he became a founder and Vice President of Tennessee Associates International.
Alan had the gift of encouragement and was a mentor to many. He will be remembered for his quick wit and kindness.
Dr. Anita C. Simonton…Dr. Anita Simonton died recently off the coast of Venezuela aboard her beloved catamaran, White Tiger. Prior to her retirement, Anita was an organizational effectiveness consultant and a certified quality engineer. She had extensive training in all aspects of quality and in various management philosophies, especially that of W. Edwards Deming who was her teacher, mentor, and friend.
Anita worked closely with the staff of SPC Press as they edited and published her book, Confessions of a Management Consultant Turned CEO: A Balanced View of Leadership (available from SPC Press), based on her own experiences as the CEO of a small company facing a critical point in its development. In that position she developed a strong management team, implemented management systems, and ensured that the organization was poised to meet its customers’ expectations and its legal and governmental responsibilities.
Anita will be missed by her many friends and colleagues and by her professional colleagues.