Quality Management Definition - Assignment Example

Quality Management Stakeholder alignment is an integral part of organizational/project management, and this mainly involves a general understanding of a value proposition. In other words, this is the process that ensures the understanding of organizational purpose and the value of stakeholder relationships. In order to achieve long term sustainability and competitiveness, every organization must ensure that stakeholder relationship is rightly promoted throughout its strategies and operations. Several categories of individuals or groups including buyers, supplier, investor, owners, general public, employees, government etc. constitute an organization’s stakeholders. Any of these variables has the potential to affect or be affected by the actions of an organization or project. For instance, when aligning goals management should ensure that there is an investor value proposition which can attract and satisfy investors. In the same way, only if the program involves buyer value, it can attract and retain its customers. However, the value attributed to each group can add to the overall success of the business only if reciprocity ensured. If the suppliers do not keep a favorable stance, the company cannot meet its customer needs in proportion to the customer value. This is the context when a business management has to demonstrate its ability to align the stakeholders. When a firm offers high quality products to its customers, it should also ensure that its suppliers are also treated with fair price. Obviously, a profit driven organization tends to fail in this regard. As Jeston and Nelis point out, one of the primary steps of any project is the ‘identification and analysis of the project stakeholders’; and this analysis involve understanding the leadership styles, stakeholder position in the organization, their personal drives etc (264). Stakeholders possess a significant role in the progress of the business. For instance, meeting the expectation of the stakeholder in a responsible manner is important. Every organization or company has its own goal or target; and completion of such strategy always assures company’s and stakeholders’ prosperity. Theories of Cornell University are the perfect examples for this as it always focuses on three aspects such as “understanding expectation, measurement and accountability” ("Stakeholder Alignment Model"). Economic growth and achieving targets are always the two pillars of a strong business firm. There are numerous hurdles to overcome in order for achieving a common goal. First of all, there should be a proper strategy and clearly defined method that will be carried out by highly motivated staff. Organization needs to identify certain problems that can normally disappoint the stakeholders, and apply practical remedies to those problems. However, the complete attention should not be diverted to the stakeholder, because it can affect their focus on the goal. Effective management is mandatory to align the goal with stakeholders’ needs. It is also important to sort out stakeholders’ interest as short-term and long term interests. The strategic decisions depend on the firm’s capacity for resource allocation as well. Every step in stakeholder engagement should aim at adding value to the entire system. In order to ensure stakeholder balance, the firm will have to address short term interest giving prime importance when compared to stakeholders with long term interests. For instance, employees who expect salary every month cannot be kept aside waiting. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is widely known as Baldrige Award. This honor is presented annually to the excellent performing organizations by the president of United States. Manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care, and nonprofit are the six fortunate categories to which Baldrige Award is granted ("Malcolm Baldrige Award..”). In olden days, quality was not a major concern for American companies, and that threatened the future of respective economy. This Baldrige Award was a strategy introduced to overcome the crisis, because the government had already foreseen the future of U.S commercial sector. This award is intended to promote stability, competiveness and standard of economy and commercial sector. The very focus of first three categories such as manufacturing, service and small business is to ensure a complete management skill for the organization thereby raising its reputation. Later categories, namely, education, healthcare and nonprofit aim at its own successful quality management. Some of the companies that received the highest recognition for their successful quality management are as follows; in 1988, Motorola Inc., Commercial Nuclear Fuel Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp., and Globe Metallunrgical Inc whereas in 2000, Dana Corp-Spicer Driveshaft Division, Karlee Company, Inc., Operation Management International Inc., and los Alamos National Bank ("Malcolm Baldrige Award..”). Winning prize is directly proportional to the success of the organization. It is not the award that ensures the profit but the strategies and effective management behind it normally raise the quality of the product. Problems or obstacles are the part of every venture. In order to overcome such hindrances organizations normally apply various tactics and strategies named as problem solving techniques. Normally a problem solving technique is closely associated with decision making. Whereas, Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) is an advanced problem solving technique. There are certain unlatching phases that PDCA possess, which certainly make it an outstanding problem solving technique. Every step it involves has its own significance. Initially, “plan” would identify and analyze the problem. Secondly, “do” stands for developing and testing the potential. Thirdly, the phase or the sequence of “check” fulfills its responsibility of estimating the effectiveness of solutions and further analyzes the possibility of improvisation. Ultimately, the “act” implements the improved solutions1. And this distinguishing feature of problem solving technique separates PDCA from other problem solving techniques. The four-step management method is very effective in every business production and progress. Although, problem solving technique is a key to success, it cannot ensure complete termination of problem. However, PDCA is a unique and scientific mode of problem solving that a company can ever hope for. Moreover, PDCA approach of problem solving is more inventive as it provides a systematic framework for a team to carry out the improvement or development. On the contrary, other basic problem solving programs or activities are either group based or continuous. Similarly, the aforesaid teams hardly discuss about certain associated rules, agreements, expenditure and profit. Thus, it can be stated that PDCA is a highly advanced technique when compared to other problem solving techniques. So, applying PDCA would bring better result to the business. No business would ever survive without offering good quality of service/product. The most focused quality guru is none other than Dr. W.Edwards Deming. The quality guru contributed significantly to different field and he was recognized and awarded for his great works. Deming’s philosophy is strongly rooted on quality as he firmly believed that the “quality is the responsibility of the management”2. And his philosophy has fourteen points which analyze the importance of ensuring quality in everything. Although his instruction on quality is not practiced completely, still its glory is understood to all. What more, he brought revolutionary changes through Total Quality Management (TQM). And his TQM deeply understands four areas such as customer focus, continuous improvement, defect preventions and the importance of sharing quality responsibilities. The roles of other quality gurus are also quite remarkable. To be precise, Joseph Juran, Armand Feigenbum and Deming have jointly developed American ideas and models. Once this quality method became successful, its branches began to spread different corners of the world. The world witnessed changes as Philip Crosby and Tom Peters, who further extended the Quality Management techniques to Japan, where it witnessed success. it is crystal clear from the above information that there was an equal interest and strive for quality in every sphere of life. The tools and techniques used in quality assurance had similarities as they all followed the process of identifying, measuring, prioritizing and eventually improving the quality. Works Cited Jeston, John and Nelis, Johan. Business Process Management: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementations. US: Routledge, 2008. Print. "Malcolm Baldrige Award Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)." Uwstout.edu,n.d. Web. 26 Jan 2014. “Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). Implementing new ideas in a controlled way, Also known as the PDCA Cycle, or Deming Cycle”. Web 26 Jan 2014. “Stakeholder Alignment Model." Hr.cornell.edu, n.d. Web. 26 Jan 2014. Read More