W. Edwards Deming didn’t just influence manufacturing — he reshaped how business itself works. His approach transformed failing systems into thriving, high-quality operations. As a business owner, you’ll find that his ideas apply directly to scaling your business effectively.
This book reveals how Deming’s thinking helped win WWII, fueled Japan’s post-war boom, and sparked entire industries to rethink success. John Willis explores the principles that powered these results. You’ll see how the same ideas can drive lasting improvement in your own business.
At the heart of the book is Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge. This framework shows how to understand and improve any process or system. For a business owner, it’s a roadmap for making smarter, more profitable decisions.
Willis blends biography, business history, and practical application. You’ll learn from the stories of real people who applied Deming’s thinking to achieve remarkable outcomes. These stories will help you see opportunities for your own growth and innovation.
If you want to streamline operations, improve quality, and position your business for long-term success, this book delivers. It’s not theory—it’s proven strategy from one of history’s greatest business minds.
As an entrepreneur, reading Deming’s Journey to Profound Knowledge, you will learn:
- Systems of Profound Knowledge: How to apply Deming’s framework to transform processes, improve quality, and boost profitability.
- Eliminating Waste: Practical ways to spot inefficiencies in your business and turn them into opportunities for growth.
- Culture of Improvement: How to build a team mindset focused on continuous improvement and long-term success.
- Learning from Proven Models: Insights from real businesses that used Deming’s methods to achieve breakthrough results.
- Thinking in Systems: How to see the bigger picture so every decision supports your business as a whole.
About the Deming’s Journey to Profound Knowledge Author: John Willis
John Willis has spent over 45 years shaping the world of IT, operations, and business strategy. He is the author of Deming’s Journey to Profound Knowledge and co-author of The DevOps Handbook.
His work focuses on how systems thinking can transform performance in business.
Willis has built and sold multiple companies, including ventures acquired by Docker and Dell. He co-founded Opscode, now known as Chef, a leader in automation technology. His track record includes founding and leading over ten startups to successful growth.
In addition to building companies, Willis has written extensively on enterprise systems management. He founded Gulf Breeze Software, an IBM award-winning partner, and authored six IBM Redbooks. His deep expertise makes his perspective invaluable for entrepreneurs looking to scale.