When exploring the origins of modern quality management and statistical process control, the name Dr. W. Edwards Deming inevitably comes to the forefront. Deming’s profound influence on manufacturing, especially in post-war Japan, and his development of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle are legendary. However, beneath the surface of Deming’s groundbreaking work, one might detect echoes of an earlier intellectual giant: Charles Sanders Peirce.

The Shewhart Cycle, also known as PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act), is fundamental to continuous improvement and quality management. These cycles are crucial in driving systematic improvements and promoting organizational learning culture. A recent thought-provoking LinkedIn post by Dr.M. sparked an insightful conversation among professionals, shedding light on the intricacies of these cycles and their practical applications.

While researching for my new book about the history of AI, I have been challenged to understand more profound levels of human cognition. Specifically when discussing the relationship between IA (Intelligent Automation) and AI (Artificial Intelligence). This has led me down a rabbit hole, but I wanted to share the beginnings of my journey.

Located in the heart of a small town in Alabama, the Opelika Songwriters Festival is quickly becoming a must-visit event for music enthusiasts and songwriters. This unique festival offers more than just a stage for songwriters to display their talents; it creates an intimate setting where young and old can connect, collaborate, and draw inspiration from one another.

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, few companies have managed to redefine their industry and set the pace for innovation as dramatically as NVIDIA. In light of NVIDIA's 2024 GTC AI Conference and the announcement of the Blackwell GPU, which NVIDIA is dubbing the "world's most powerful chip", I want to continue our series we have been doing around supply chain by looking at how the company transformed itself into becoming one of the leading forces in artificial intelligence.

Today, I'd like to pivot from our regular conversations on technology to address an issue of paramount importance that we, as a community, tend to overlook: burnout. This matter hits close to home for me, having seen its devastating effects firsthand. The loss of vibrant, talented individuals to burnout has left an indelible mark on me and many others within our circle. Despite significant research and discussion, the tech realm, including our DevOps sphere, continues grappling with burnout's fallout.

Throughout my career, I've encountered a myriad of management systems, each promising to be the key to organizational success. Yet, it's through these experiences that I've developed a way of looking at things critically. My philosophy has evolved not from a place of mere preference but from a foundation built on practical application, effectiveness, and a profound respect for the theories of Dr. Edwards Deming on management systems. Using this framework, I want to contrast Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with Service Level Objectives (SLOs).

The Supply Chain Masterminds Behind Amazon and Apple.

Throughout the past year, "Profound" has interviewed thought leaders, experts, and practitioners to explore the intersection between Deming's wisdom and the possibilities within digital transformation. These guests shared their experiences and helped align Deming's ideas with the ever-evolving landscape of technology, exemplifying the convergence of theory and real-world application to illuminate the path toward organizational success. Join us for this past year's recap as we revisit the highlights, profound moments, and transformative insights unfolding throughout the episodes.

The landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been profoundly influenced by the concept of attention, a cornerstone of human cognitive processes. This fascinating interplay between cognitive science and AI development provides a unique lens to view the evolution of AI technologies, revealing how they have come to mimic some of the most sophisticated functions of the human brain.