Kicking the habit

Abstract

Instituting change is one of management's greatest challenges. When the desired change includes management's own behavior, the challenge is even greater. In his recent work, Deming has increasingly emphasized the importance of psychological theory in sound management. Understanding Deming's psychology of change is essential and invaluable to a management group that is implementing change, as is a model from which to work. To explain why an analogy between implementing Deming's method and the treatment of addictions is important, an explanation about the nature of addiction is necessary. Originally, addiction meant a habit that was extremely hard to break. The most resistant drug habit was thought to be opiate addiction because opiates cause physiological dependence. When the drug is withdrawn, physical illness ensues, motivating the addict to return to drug use. Therefore, the term 'addiction' was reserved for habits established by drugs that caused physiological dependence.