Kenneth B. Tingey

Methods-Based Management is the embodiment of the scientific method applied to organizations. No one has declared that a scientific approach to management of organizations was possible since Frederick W. Taylor, whose work was judged to fall short of that mark. Several developments outlined in this book support the idea that organizations can turn to science for resolution of their problems, from big to small. Quality models dating almost a century ago to Walter Shewhart, coupled with innovations over many decades in North America and Japan, resulted in development of quality/lean-oriented methodological approaches to improved behavior of organizations. These methods, based on the scientific method, are not universally recognized. Tingey adds two considerations to this mix. The first is an information-processing model that is within the reach of non-technologist logic designers. The second is network analysis, an approach that bridges between social and physical spheres to improve even on the results of quality/lean efforts. Together, these approaches can bring breakthrough performance to organizations, allowing organizations to make maximal use of their people as well as their technologies.