Facilitation

Bead Experiment Demonstration Video

Watch a demo of BeadExperiment.com.

Leading a Powerful Red Bead Experiment Debrief: Essential Questions Every Facilitator Should Use

The Red Bead Experiment, invented by Dr. W. Edwards Deming, is more than just a hands-on activity—it’s a catalyst for deep learning about quality management, systemic variation, and how leadership shapes workplace culture. Yet, the true impact of the Red Bead Experiment relies not on the beads themselves, but on the conversation that unfolds after the demonstration. As a continuous improvement professional or organizational facilitator, knowing how to debrief effectively is what transforms a fun demonstration into a session that reshapes participants’ thinking.

How to Facilitate Deming’s Red Bead Experiment: Step-by-Step Guide for Quality Teams

If you’re a quality management facilitator, continuous improvement practitioner, or trainer seeking to make the powerful lessons of Dr. Deming’s legendary Red Bead Experiment come alive—either in-person or online—this guide offers step-by-step instructions, facilitation tips, and practical advice for creating an engaging and insightful experience. Whether you’re introducing Lean Six Sigma to new team members, training managers in systems thinking, or cultivating an improvement culture, Deming’s Red Bead Experiment remains one of the most effective demonstrations of how system design, not worker effort, determines process outcomes.