People: Cover story-You tell us who your favourite quality guru is and why, plus the results of our quality guru LinkedIn poll

摘要

While playing Maria in The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews sang about her favourite things, among which were geese flying with the moon reflected on their wings, doorbells and brown paper packages. However, when things aren't going to plan at work, it's not kitten whiskers for me; its cause and effect diagrams and the five whys. I don't really remember the first time 1 applied or was involved in using these two tools. However, the power of each is the reason I still use them today. The cause and effect diagram (or 'fishbone diagram' as it's also known) was the first quality control technique that really grabbed me. Its visual appearance drew me in and I have to use it at least once a week or else I get withdrawal symptoms. It has always helped to put some order to my many thoughts and ideas. I love it for its simplicity and near-zero cost to create, especially since it offers huge gains in conveying an idea or set direction.