Key Outline

I’ve attached all the work that has been submitted from week 1-3.

Week 1.

Total Quality Management (TQM) are management methods applied to improve the productivity and quality of operations in a business entity. Total quality management is also referred to as a comprehensive approach to management that is used across an entity, which includes divisions, workers and extends forward and backward to include customers/clients and suppliers. It mainly focuses on quality productivity in an organization's operations. The approach also focuses on the long-term satisfaction of customers. The approach views an entity as a collection of processes that form one unit. “Do the right things, right at the first time every time” is the simple objective of total quality approach (Goeatsch nd Davis, 2014).

The processes of total quality management are categorized in four following categories: plan, do, check and act. However before the advent of total quality management concept various other quality embedded approaches were used in different organizations all over the world. These approaches include Six Sigma method which involves six distinct steps which are defined, measures, analyses, improve and control. Other methods on quality such as “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving” which was technically created to emphasize on quality improvement through problem elimination (Goeatsch nd Davis,2014).

The approach has acquired specific strategic attention because it has highlighted on the core problem of all organization which is quality development, management, and maintenance. The companies that have applied this approach have succeeded and created good cooperation among its personnel. Some of the foundation of this approach include the commitment of the administration to all workers, satisfying the consumers’ needs, team improvement, systems to facilitate enhancement and reducing product service costs (Gemenez-Aspin, 2012).

Total Quality Management is considered a customer-focused procedure whose continual improvement of organizations activities. It strives to ensure all associated human resource work toward the common objectives of improving goods or service quality, as well as enhancing the processes that are in place for production. Particular emphasis is put on fact-based decision making, using performanceformula to monitor progress. High levels of entity communication are emphasized on, for the purpose of maintaining employee morale and involvement.

References:

Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2014). Quality management for organizational excellence. person.

Gimenez-Espin, J. A., Jiménez-Jiménez, D., & Martínez-Costa, M. (2013). Organizational culture for total quality management. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 24(5-6), 678-692.

Week 2.

Quality improvement involves a formal approach to analysis of performance and the systematic efforts that are used to improve it. Various models are used to meet these improvements including Total Quality Management and Continuous Quality Improvement among others. Quality improvement is done at the industry, administration, in medical practice and even at a personal level. Personal experience in quality management programs are many. These include pursuing master’s program so that one can get promotion at work, at work, one can improve his or her performance and at home, buy a certain cleaning agent to improve cleanliness. Personally, I have experiencer quality improvement at work. We had installed an inventory monitoring system that allowed us to know what was in store at all times. This changed the manner in which materials were handled at the company (Roche, B. & Sommer, C., 2010).

     Modern quality theory and management is customer focused. Total quality management today is more customer focused than it is employee focused. As such, it is important to carry out the improvement on quality focused on increasing the satisfaction of the customers. Customers are satisfied by the quality they get from the business and this makes it essential to improve the quality through quality improvement.

     Some of the quality initiatives failed. This is because of failing to adhere to certain principles in business. One of them is failure to realize that pursuing quality is more important than quantity and risks. Failure to carry out cost-benefit analysis for the business and failure to adhere to the stringent measures of quality improvement as defined (Miranda, 2013).

References:

Miranda, S. (2013, April 28). 5 Quality Failures that shook the World. Retrieved from Process Excellence Network: http://www.processexcellencenetwork.com/lean-six-sigma-business-transformation/articles/5-quality-failures-that-shook-the-world/

Roche, B. & Sommer, C. (2010). Quality Assurance and qulity improvement. Personal Experiences and intentions. Swiss Surgeons, 67-73.

Week 3

5S

The tactic used in improving quality in the organization was 5S. The employment of 5S in the organization’s strategy brought a lot of positive results in the company. 5S was applied in the organization’s operations in different ways.

      Sort

The organization ensured that everything was sort out. By sorting out everything the employees would spend very little time looking for a tool or a document (Hannon, 2006). The organization did not only concentrate on tools and equipment used in the organization, it ensured that even the files were sorted out.

     Set in order

All the files belonging to the organization was set in order. There had been delays in operations because it took a long time to look for a file or a document. The manager ensured that all the tools used in the organization were set in order. The move helped in speeding up the organization’s operations and reducing accidents at workplace.

      Shine

After sorting out and setting everything in order, the organization ensured that the services and products of the company were attractive to the customers. The quality of most of the commodities was improved.

      Standardize

The best way to ensure that the services and products of an organization are attractive to the customers is by setting a quality standard. Standardizing the quality of goods and services helped in attracting more customers.

    Sustain

For an organization to remain successful it must ensure that all the strategies put in place are not eroded. Failure to maintain the quality standards of goods and services, the customers will start walking away (Griffin, 2015). To ensure that the high quality of goods and services would not be compromised, the organization selected a team whose main objective was to ensure that the high quality of goods and services is maintained.

References:

Griffin, R. (2015). Fundamentals of Management. Boston: Cencage Learning.

Hannon, B. (2006).  Dynamic Modeling for Business Management. Berlin: Springer Science and     Business Media.

Introduction

History of the quality management evolution

Based on Low & Ong, (2014) the history of quality management is traced back to middle ages in which the work of apprentices and journeymen were inspected and assessed to make sure that they met quality standards in all factors of the final product so as to ensure that buyers are satisfied. It has pass through several changes but it has maintained its goals. It started to work in 1920’s and its focus was on the final product in which the statistical theory was applied for the first time to product quality control. The inspections on product quality control was done, this include examining, measuring and testing the processes, products against specific requirements to ensure every element met standards and guidelines. During the late 1970s and early 1970s Western Europe and North America were facing stiff competition from Japan and the United Kingdom a net importer of final products. The firms started to reexamine the quality control techniques and how the Japanese have been successfully employed them and at this point the quality management control was employed in most parts.

This quality management is needed for the companies to ensure that their products are quality and standards and satisfied their customers. It is also needed to ensure that the end products meet the required standards. Development and change were done in 1940’s by experts and industry leaders and this was the start of Total Quality Management. This system is needed to change the focus from inspecting the end product to preventing final product problems by detecting on the production line.

Direction that companies are adopting in terms of strategic quality management

According to Naidu el at, (2006) there are various directions that companies can adopt in terms of strategic quality management but the following two are more specific. These include; adopting the direction of threshold capabilities which are required for the requirements of the completion in a market. In order to achieve competitive advantage, there is need to develop strategic capabilities which the competitors cannot obtain. This can be achieved through the resources that the company has and which are unique.

Strategic planning

This is another strategic direction that the company can adopt this so as to focus and prioritize the efforts and the implementation of a plan. The company can use this direction to anticipate and predict changes and the position the company to act. The company has to quality which is a top priority for all in the company.

Six Sigma

Evolution

This is a methodology started by Motorola in 1986. It was developed to minimize defects in business process by improving it. It is widely as an organizational strategy which majors on reduction of differences and achievement of output improvements through problem solving.

Pros of Six Sigma

This initiative has several advantages which have made it employed by various companies. The following are the pros of this initiative; it makes decision based on data which can be verified rather than focusing on the assumptions. It also put more emphasis on the support and passionate management leadership. It is also customer driven. It is also addressing the whole process of behind the completion of service instead of the mere final product. This program is also proactive since it focuses on improvements before shortcomings are detected. It also stock value and sales.

Cons of six sigma

This program may create bureaucracy and rigidity that may cause stifle creativity and delays; this is because it is applied in all factors of planning process and production. Another con is that the focus of customer may be taken to ends, in which the inner qualities control measures that are not taken due to the emphasis of achieving the Six Sigma – stipulated status of consumer satisfaction (Evans, 2014)

Evolution of Deming program

This program evolved when the level of competition among business organizations increased and there was need to review the quality management programs to ensure that the service and products remain competitive. It was applied after World War II.

Pros of Deming program

This program has several programs which include; it makes small-scale improvements at all levels of manufacturing and management processes and earns benefits of their cumulative effects. With this organizations are able to maximize value and quality for the final- user. This program is also has benefits the suppliers by enabling them to devote their attention towards the innovative goods with higher tolerance. It also reduces the time for inspection and this make the purchasers to depend on quality parts. This program also enables the companies to enjoy a dedicated workforce and increase the morale on every member of the company by placing the commitment.

Cons of Deming program

While this program has its benefit, it also has demerits which include; this program calls for the elimination of work standards and numerical quotas and the frontline employees may not in a position to provide documentation of positive job evaluation during compensation hearings. Also the employers may not be in a position to justify workers increment of salaries and terminations. It forced the companies to get involved in swift undertaking which will negate the available benefits from the new process and alienating members who are not ready to move from the status quo. This program also does not demand radical organization reform while it calls for organizational change.

This from week 2

SENIOR MANAGEMENT ROLES

For an organization to perform its roles efficiently, the senior management must ensure that they effectively follow their roles and responsibilities well. This will ensure that the organization achieve their goals and objectives. The senior management has well displayed roles that they should follow so as to make the organization a successful and this is as discussed below.

To begin with, the senior management is essential in matters pertaining decision making of the major strategic plans of the organization. This includes the methods and policies to be used in strategic plans as well as matters that arise among the employees. Again the senior management must set a good example for the junior staff to follow. This will ensure that they become good role models to them and doing efficient work that the juniors should imitate them.

More so, the senior management must provide necessary resource needed in the organizational duties and functions. They do this by authorizing funds for the different vote heads in the organization depending with the budget involved in that period of work. This is a great role which must be performed to ensure that there is effective performance of the employees. If this is not done then the organization will be at risk of closure hence the management should do this in advance. In addition, they should be conflict solvers in the same organization to facilitate easy resolution of conflicts that may occur between the employees. This will create an encouraging working environment for both senior and junior staff.

Firms and organizations must ensure that the senior management follows their roles to make the performance become easy and valid. If the senior management performs these roles then all departments will experience easy and smooth working environment. All the resources will be available and conflicts will be solved well. If this is not followed then the firm will experience hardships in performing its duties.

However, the senior and middle management should come up with metrics to be used in ensuring there is effective monitoring, controlling good communication among the organizational departments. This includes factors like establishing good communication and monitoring methods. This will work well for the efficient performance of the organizations.

This from week 3

References

Evans, J. R. (2014). An introduction to six sigma and process improvement.

Low, S. P., & Ong, J. (2014). Project quality management: Critical success factors for buildings.

Naidu, N. V. R., Babu, K. M., & Rajendra, G. (2006). Total quality management. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Ltd. Publishers.

Week 2

References:

Bartlett, A., & Ghoshal, S. (1997). The myth of the generic manager: new personal competencies for new management roles. California management review, 40(1), 92-116.

Crawford, L. (2005). Senior management perceptions of project management competence. International journal of project management, 23(1), 7-16.

Liff, S., & Ward, K. (2001). Distorted views through the glass ceiling: the construction of women's understandings of promotion and senior management positions. Gender, Work & Organization, 8(1), 19-36.

Week 3

REFERENCES

Harris A. (2013). 6 unexpected ways Six Sigma can benefit your company. Retrieved from