Deming's 14 Points

Biological Parallel

Deming's 14 Points read like evolutionary principles: constancy of purpose (species adapt toward fitness), continual improvement (mutation and selection), on-the-job training (learned behaviors in primates), breaking down barriers (symbiosis across species), and eliminating quotas (carrying capacity, not arbitrary targets). Evolution has no annual performance reviews—organisms are selected continuously based on survival, not quarterly metrics. Ecosystems institute leadership rather than supervision: keystone species shape environments through influence, not authority. Deming translated 3.8 billion years of biological management into 14 operational principles.