Curious Cat
@evopcat.bsky.social
Find me online https://johnhunter.com/john_hunter_online
Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog https://management.curiouscatblog.net
Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog https://management.curiouscatblog.net
... it seems to me that the visible waste (time and money spent on the #hiring process) is seen as the only waste and the much more difficult to see waste of hiring the wrong people is ignored...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/10/07/h...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/10/07/h...
Hiring the Right People |
management.curiouscatblog.net
October 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
... it seems to me that the visible waste (time and money spent on the #hiring process) is seen as the only waste and the much more difficult to see waste of hiring the wrong people is ignored...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/10/07/h...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/10/07/h...
Foggy alpine trail
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
See more photos curiouscat.com/travel/photo...
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
See more photos curiouscat.com/travel/photo...
September 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Foggy alpine trail
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
See more photos curiouscat.com/travel/photo...
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
See more photos curiouscat.com/travel/photo...
Reposted by Curious Cat
9 CDC Directors going back to 1977 speak out. What RFK Jr has done to our nation’s public health system "should alarm every American."
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
Opinion | We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:23 AM
9 CDC Directors going back to 1977 speak out. What RFK Jr has done to our nation’s public health system "should alarm every American."
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...
Reposted by Curious Cat
“I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponization of public health,” wrote Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Additional resignations among CDC leadership (so far) following Director Monarez’s removal, per notes to their staff:
August 27, 2025 at 10:24 PM
“I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponization of public health,” wrote Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
"When people mistake the data proxy for the thing to improve... they focus on improvement of how the #data looks not of the system. That is the wrong strategy. The correct strategy is to focus on improving the system and as a way…"
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/08/19/d...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/08/19/d...
#management
Distort the System |
management.curiouscatblog.net
August 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"When people mistake the data proxy for the thing to improve... they focus on improvement of how the #data looks not of the system. That is the wrong strategy. The correct strategy is to focus on improving the system and as a way…"
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/08/19/d...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/08/19/d...
#management
Reposted by Curious Cat
Read a parenting book recently (stay with me here) that completely changed how I think about management.
Turns out the most important skill isn't avoiding mistakes, it's what you do after making them.
terriblesoftware.org/2025/08/22/t...
Turns out the most important skill isn't avoiding mistakes, it's what you do after making them.
terriblesoftware.org/2025/08/22/t...
The Management Skill Nobody Talks About
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen Let me tell you something that will happen after you become a manager: you’re going to mess u…
terriblesoftware.org
August 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Read a parenting book recently (stay with me here) that completely changed how I think about management.
Turns out the most important skill isn't avoiding mistakes, it's what you do after making them.
terriblesoftware.org/2025/08/22/t...
Turns out the most important skill isn't avoiding mistakes, it's what you do after making them.
terriblesoftware.org/2025/08/22/t...
Excerpts from The Deming Library Volume XXI, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Dr. Russell Ackoff + David Langford demonstrate that educators can begin a quality transformation by developing an understanding of the properties+powers of systems-oriented thinking...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/25/a...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/25/a...
A Theory of a System for Educators and Managers |
management.curiouscatblog.net
August 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Excerpts from The Deming Library Volume XXI, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Dr. Russell Ackoff + David Langford demonstrate that educators can begin a quality transformation by developing an understanding of the properties+powers of systems-oriented thinking...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/25/a...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/25/a...
Reposted by Curious Cat
I am so embarrassed for humanity.
We had this disease eradicated. The process of keeping it that way was SO SIMPLE.
And because of a bunch of idiots, and bunch of grifters making public health into an ideological football, here we are.
Just a faceplant. A completely unforced error.
We had this disease eradicated. The process of keeping it that way was SO SIMPLE.
And because of a bunch of idiots, and bunch of grifters making public health into an ideological football, here we are.
Just a faceplant. A completely unforced error.
“Measles is spreading so quickly in Alberta, Canada, that health officials have stopped publicly releasing information about local exposures in the hardest hit areas &are instead issuing blanket warnings against travel to the northern or southern regions of the province” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
Measles Spreads Quickly in Rural Alberta Areas That Resisted Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I am so embarrassed for humanity.
We had this disease eradicated. The process of keeping it that way was SO SIMPLE.
And because of a bunch of idiots, and bunch of grifters making public health into an ideological football, here we are.
Just a faceplant. A completely unforced error.
We had this disease eradicated. The process of keeping it that way was SO SIMPLE.
And because of a bunch of idiots, and bunch of grifters making public health into an ideological football, here we are.
Just a faceplant. A completely unforced error.
"to create a system where the vast majority of people can have #joy_in_work most of the time requires a deep understanding and application of modern #management improvement practices (Deming, lean thinking, etc.)…"
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/14/p...
#leadership #respect_for_people
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/14/p...
#leadership #respect_for_people
Positivity and Joy in Work |
management.curiouscatblog.net
August 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"to create a system where the vast majority of people can have #joy_in_work most of the time requires a deep understanding and application of modern #management improvement practices (Deming, lean thinking, etc.)…"
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/14/p...
#leadership #respect_for_people
management.curiouscatblog.net/2010/10/14/p...
#leadership #respect_for_people
Reposted by Curious Cat
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
It's important to note here that we're not just talking about faculty & university staff. 100s of U.S. colleges are in towns or small cities where they form the major industry & lifeblood of the community. Loss of students -> loss of rent $, restaurant $, bars, bookstores, gaming stores...
The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact
August 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
"Far too often, companies promote employees into #management positions and expect them to fulfill the obligations of their new position without helping prepare them to meet their new responsibilities. People who excelled at doing their non-supervisory..."
deming.org/educate-new-...
#leadership
deming.org/educate-new-...
#leadership
Educate New Managers on Their New Responsibilities - The W. Edwards Deming Institute
By John Hunter, author of Management Matters: Building Enterprise Capability. Far too often, companies promote employees into management positions and expect them to fulfill the obligations of their n...
deming.org
July 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
"Far too often, companies promote employees into #management positions and expect them to fulfill the obligations of their new position without helping prepare them to meet their new responsibilities. People who excelled at doing their non-supervisory..."
deming.org/educate-new-...
#leadership
deming.org/educate-new-...
#leadership
You want to optimize your life and your children's lives. That isn't the same thing as avoiding any things that might have some negative aspects...
curiouscatlinks.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...
curiouscatlinks.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...
I was a Lucky Kid
Comments on: Work travel: it’s required for my role and business, but brutal for my heart. My 5-year-old is really struggling with me trave...
curiouscatlinks.blogspot.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
You want to optimize your life and your children's lives. That isn't the same thing as avoiding any things that might have some negative aspects...
curiouscatlinks.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...
curiouscatlinks.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...
The USA has many assets: transportation infrastructure, banking... huge market, engineering education… The key will be to keep focusing on the whole system (and fix things like huge budget deficient... health care costs, excessive executive pay…).
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/29/i...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/29/i...
Innovation Needed to Keep USA Manufacturing? | Curious Cat Management Improvement blog
management.curiouscatblog.net
July 22, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The USA has many assets: transportation infrastructure, banking... huge market, engineering education… The key will be to keep focusing on the whole system (and fix things like huge budget deficient... health care costs, excessive executive pay…).
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/29/i...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/29/i...
The Curious Cat Management Improvement Institute has partnered with William Scherkenbach to make his files on management improvement available on their website. These files provide great value to those seeking to improve the practice of management in their organizations
ccmii.org/files/ws/
ccmii.org/files/ws/
William Scherkenbach files
This collection of files has been provided by William Scherkenbach to help educate those interested in learning about better ways to manage.
ccmii.org
July 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Curious Cat Management Improvement Institute has partnered with William Scherkenbach to make his files on management improvement available on their website. These files provide great value to those seeking to improve the practice of management in their organizations
ccmii.org/files/ws/
ccmii.org/files/ws/
We use #data to act as a proxy for some results of the system. Often people forget that the desired end result is not for the number to be improved but for the situation to be improved. We hope,if the measure improves the situation will have improved...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2004/08/29/d...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2004/08/29/d...
Dangers of Forgetting the Proxy Nature of Data |
management.curiouscatblog.net
July 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
We use #data to act as a proxy for some results of the system. Often people forget that the desired end result is not for the number to be improved but for the situation to be improved. We hope,if the measure improves the situation will have improved...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2004/08/29/d...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2004/08/29/d...
when we fail to value the best ideas, instead valuing new ideas, we are not as effective as we could be. We often accept pale copies of good old ideas instead of going to the good old ideas – which will often lead to a much richer source of knowledge...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/10/m...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/10/m...
Management Advice Failures |
management.curiouscatblog.net
June 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
when we fail to value the best ideas, instead valuing new ideas, we are not as effective as we could be. We often accept pale copies of good old ideas instead of going to the good old ideas – which will often lead to a much richer source of knowledge...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/10/m...
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/06/10/m...
"Effective use of data is an important part of management improvement. Emphasis is needed on “effective”; data misuse is rampant and creates problems. Use of data by itself is not sufficient."
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/09/u...
#data #management #leadership #critical_thinking
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/09/u...
#data #management #leadership #critical_thinking
Understanding Data |
management.curiouscatblog.net
June 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
"Effective use of data is an important part of management improvement. Emphasis is needed on “effective”; data misuse is rampant and creates problems. Use of data by itself is not sufficient."
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/09/u...
#data #management #leadership #critical_thinking
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/09/u...
#data #management #leadership #critical_thinking
And many people will die "Air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021, becoming the second leading risk factor for death, including for children under 5 years"
www.unicef.org/press-releas...
If you only care about USA annual deaths the total is 200,000 lae.mit.edu/2024/06/28/a...
www.unicef.org/press-releas...
If you only care about USA annual deaths the total is 200,000 lae.mit.edu/2024/06/28/a...
June 12, 2025 at 1:54 AM
And many people will die "Air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally in 2021, becoming the second leading risk factor for death, including for children under 5 years"
www.unicef.org/press-releas...
If you only care about USA annual deaths the total is 200,000 lae.mit.edu/2024/06/28/a...
www.unicef.org/press-releas...
If you only care about USA annual deaths the total is 200,000 lae.mit.edu/2024/06/28/a...
John Green explains how $20/year (from you and every other USA citizen) has helped save 91 million lives since 2000
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJW2...
Calling your representatives to let them know you care about saving over 3 million lives a year can make a difference.
Please watch the video + call
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJW2...
Calling your representatives to let them know you care about saving over 3 million lives a year can make a difference.
Please watch the video + call
90,000,000 Lives for $20
YouTube video by vlogbrothers
www.youtube.com
June 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
John Green explains how $20/year (from you and every other USA citizen) has helped save 91 million lives since 2000
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJW2...
Calling your representatives to let them know you care about saving over 3 million lives a year can make a difference.
Please watch the video + call
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJW2...
Calling your representatives to let them know you care about saving over 3 million lives a year can make a difference.
Please watch the video + call
"When encountering a problem or defect the inclination of many is to find a person to blame. W. Edwards Deming believed that the system was responsible for 93% of the problems and over time he increased that number to at least 97%..."
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/03/f...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/03/f...
Find the Root Cause Instead of the Person to Blame |
management.curiouscatblog.net
June 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"When encountering a problem or defect the inclination of many is to find a person to blame. W. Edwards Deming believed that the system was responsible for 93% of the problems and over time he increased that number to at least 97%..."
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/03/f...
#management
management.curiouscatblog.net/2006/05/03/f...
Reposted by Curious Cat
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you burn down a forest, you don't miss out on lumber for just that season. You have to replant all the trees, nurture them, and wait for them to grow.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
The science and research budget cuts happening now are wanton, senseless arson. Recovery, if it ever happens, will take generations.
"having processes that create defects and then use inspection to catch them is certainly something to avoid… code reviews should be geared toward capturing learning that can be applied to current processes to improve them so fewer bugs are created in the future…"
deming.org/software-cod...
deming.org/software-cod...
Software Code Reviews from a Deming Perspective - The W. Edwards Deming Institute
By John Hunter, author of Management Matters: Building Enterprise Capability. Software code review is the practice of reviewing the software code written by colleagues on your software development tea...
deming.org
June 2, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"having processes that create defects and then use inspection to catch them is certainly something to avoid… code reviews should be geared toward capturing learning that can be applied to current processes to improve them so fewer bugs are created in the future…"
deming.org/software-cod...
deming.org/software-cod...
Reposted by Curious Cat
its crazy how dominant germany was in science (especially chemistry) in the 19th century, it was basically the international language for scientists, people came from all over the world to train at heidelberg etc, and then....
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
May 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
its crazy how dominant germany was in science (especially chemistry) in the 19th century, it was basically the international language for scientists, people came from all over the world to train at heidelberg etc, and then....
Reposted by Curious Cat
Everyone involved in trying to pass off that ChatGPT-extruded disinformation manifesto as a scientific report should be, at the very least, barred from public office for life. The MAHA report is dangerous criminal misconduct and an offence to the process of science.
This is what happens when you put internet conspiracy theorists in charge of major government departments.
The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist
The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report misinterprets some studies and cites others that don’t exist, according to the listed authors.
www.notus.org
May 29, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Everyone involved in trying to pass off that ChatGPT-extruded disinformation manifesto as a scientific report should be, at the very least, barred from public office for life. The MAHA report is dangerous criminal misconduct and an offence to the process of science.
Reposted by Curious Cat
Nature ran a piece finding that 25 million people could die as a result of ending USAID. This puts Trump and Musk in the category of the most brutal leaders of the 20th century in terms of unnecessary lives lost.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
May 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Nature ran a piece finding that 25 million people could die as a result of ending USAID. This puts Trump and Musk in the category of the most brutal leaders of the 20th century in terms of unnecessary lives lost.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...