Variation Exists!

Lesson 1*

Natural and man-made processes produce different results. Nature creates variation as a result of many variables acting on everything. The ocean tides, the amount of rain each season or year, the sun and the wind all have varying effects and cause varying results. Nature varies.

Man-made processes also vary. Critical characteristics in manufacturing processes, production figures, project measures and most data in businesses vary in expected and unexpected ways. Social and Government statistics of births, deaths, and all human activity, likewise vary in expected and unexpected ways.

Variation exists!

Consider a boat sitting in a lake. Does it sit still or does it rock with the waves and the wind? Most people would not be surprised that a boat rocks back and forth. We would expect it to rock in almost all situations.

Many man-made and natural processes do the same type of ‘rocking.’ However, since it is harder to see the rocking or variation in many things we sometimes forget that it is there. But it is. This noise, or variation, of just rocking back and forth is natural, and if we try to stop the rocking, we can create more problems than we solve. On the other hand, if an uneven load, or someone moving in the boat, or other disturbance, is enough to rock the boat too much and tip it too far, we would want to respond to that important signal.

Go to Lesson 2 Home

* These basic lessons are provided as thought starters to help visitors understand and appreciate the nature of variation and how to properly respond to it.