Using a Deming Lens to Investigate and Solve Managerial Challenges

In most organizations, managers and supervisors face challenges related to effective use of time, issues with productivity and communications. Managers' challenges range from doing more with less --to motivating employees. To solve these challenges effectively means identifying their underlying causes, which are seldom addressed. In this study, over 120 interviews of supervisors and managers in various industries were conducted to identify top challenges. The interviews were conducted by senior-level students as a required assignment in an engineering leadership course at a major Midwestern university. The results show that motivating employees and communicating effectively are the top 2 challenges, respectively, with time management being third. In this paper, the top challenges are analyzed using the Deming Management Method and specifically Deming's System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK) lens. The SoPK lens is used to ask: • Are the root issues of the challenges typically overlooked or misdiagnosed? • Can the SoPK lens provide insight as to how organizations can address the challenges? If so, how? • What can be done about each challenge individually and collectively to reduce the burnout of managers?