Quality Management Competencies In Use

Quality management is an established, widespread and well-researched management concept. Yet, surprisingly little research can be found on understanding the potential for action that is required in order to perform quality management work. The field of quality management has a strong emphasis not only on a customer and supplier focus (external), but also on a process focus (internal). This creates a constant challenge in the way in which quality management is conceived and realised. Another challenge is reflected in current research that describes the need for conceptual change in quality management due to extensive ongoing changes in society and the business environment. The nature and pace of technological development, coupled with changes in social behaviour, continuously bring out new customer needs and new ways for customers to interact with the producers of goods and services. This requires adaptive and innovative approaches for organisations, in order to stay competitive and relevant. This thesis uses competence-based and practice-based perspectives to better understand the requirements placed on quality management in meeting these challenges. It investigates what quality management work is and what properties must exist, in terms of competence and practice, in order to make quality management work possible. The purpose of this thesis is, therefore, to explore how the theoretical perspectives of competence and practice can contribute to an increased understanding of what is required to perform quality management work. Three research questions are posed and answered. The first research question concerns the nature of quality management work and how its key factors may be characterised; the second research question deals with competencies of quality management and how these are interrelated with quality management work; the third research question concerns how the interplay between quality management competencies can be understood. The research questions are answered by interpreting the findings of five papers included in the thesis, using a conceptual framework. The results of the thesis suggest two main directions of quality management work: expansive and adaptive quality management work. Expansive work is characterised by explorative practice, radical change to existing processes or the development of new processes, a logic of development, an orientation towards development and innovation, a striving to increase external efficiency and a striving to increase process variation. Adaptive work is characterised by exploitative practice, incremental change to existing processes, a logic of performance, an orientation towards goals and productivity, a striving towards internal efficiency and a striving to decrease process variation. Quality management competencies relate to quality management work in combining role dependency and discretion. Role dependency signifies the potential and capability to assume multiple role-responsibilities. Discretion is the ‘freedom of movement’ for quality practitioners to engage in practices and choose quality management work directions according to task and situation. The interplay between quality management competencies is understood as the combined effects of two competence antecedents: individual and/or collective dispositions to change and learning. This thesis extends research on quality management by increasing our knowledge and understanding of the requirements needed, not only to select and perform existing quality management practices, but also to adopt and engage in practices where emergence is accommodated by ambidexterity. Kvalitetsutveckling är ett etablerat, utbrett och välbeforskat managementkoncept. Trots detta går det att hitta förvånansvärt lite forskning vilken fokuserar på en ökad förståelse för de handlingsförmågor som faktiskt krävs för att utföra kvalitetsutveckling. Som koncept särskiljer sig kvalitetsutveckling i sitt dubbla fokus på både ett internt, processrelaterat innehåll och ett externt, kundfokuserat innehåll. Detta skapar en konstant utmaning för hur kvalitetsutveckling kan förstås och omsättas i praktiker. En annan utmaning som beskrivs i forskningen är behovet av konceptuell förändring som krävs i kvalitetsutveckling för att möta kunna samhälleliga och marknadsmässiga förändringar. Hastigheten och innehållet i den tekniska utvecklingen samt förändringar i sociala beteenden utvecklar hela tiden nya kundbehov och nya sätt att interagera med leverantörer av varor och tjänster. Detta kräver anpassningsinriktade och innovativa förhållningssätt för organisationer att vara relevanta samt att kunna bibehålla och öka konkurrenskraften. Kompetensteoretiska och praktikteoretiska perspektiv används i avhandlingen för att bättre förstå de krav som kan ställas på modern kvalitetsutveckling i att möta dessa utmaningar. Avhandlingen undersöker vad modern kvalitetsutveckling är och vilka egenskaper som måste finnas, i termer av kompetens och praktik, för att möjliggöra att modern kvalitetsutveckling utförs. Syftet med denna avhandling är således att utforska hur kompetensteoretiska och praktikteoretiska perspektiv kan bidra till en ökad förståelse för vad som krävs för att utföra kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete. Tre olika forskningsfrågor behandlas. Den första forskningsfrågan handlar om vad kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete är och hur det kan karaktäriseras i termer av nyckelfaktorer. Den andra forskningsfrågan berör kompetenser för kvalitetsutveckling och hur dessa kan kopplas till arbete med kvalitetsutveckling. Den tredje forskningsfrågan handlar om hur samspelet mellan kompetenser för kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete kan förstås. Forskningsfrågorna besvaras genom att tolka de empiriska resultaten i fem bilagda artiklar utifrån ett konceptuellt ramverk. Avhandlingens resultat visar på två huvudsakliga inriktningar på innehållet i kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete: expansivt och adaptivt kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete. Nyckelfaktorer i expansivt arbete är “explorative” praktik, radikal förändring av existerande processer eller utveckling av nya processer, utvecklingslogik, utvecklings- och innovationsorientering, extern effektivitet samt ökning av processvariation. Nyckelfaktorer i adaptivt arbete är “exploitative” praktik, inkrementell förändring i existerande processer, prestationslogik, mål och produktivitets-orientering, intern effektivitet samt att minska och styra processvariation. Kopplingen mellan kompetenser för och arbetet med praktiker i kvalitetsutveckling utgörs av en potential för rollberoende och handlingsfrihet. Rollberoende beskriver en individuell och/eller kollektiv kapacitet att kunna tillägna sig samt byta mellan olika definierade rollansvar. Handlingsfrihet beskriver kapaciteten att kunna välja inriktning på innehållet i arbetet beroende på uppgift och situation. Samspelet mellan kompetenser för kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete kan beskrivas som den samlade effekten av två förutsättningar (eng. antecedent) för kompetens: individuell och/eller kollektiv benägenhet för förändring och lärande. Avhandlingens resultat bidrar till forskningen om kvalitetsutveckling på två huvudsakliga sätt. Dels genom att öka kunskap och förståelse för de krav som ställs på att välja och prestera existerande kvalitetsutvecklingspraktiker. Dels genom att öka förståelsen om hur anpassning och utövande av dessa praktiker går till där framväxandet av praktiker stimuleras genom att möjliggöra organisatorisk ambidextri.

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This Book Is A Sincere Attempt To Explain The Operating Functions Of Management And Tools Of Communications In A Simple And Lucid Language. The Primary Object Of Writing This Book Is To Meet The Requirements Of C.A. (Professional Examination-One) Students. However, This Book Will Also Be Very Useful For The Students Doing B.Com., M.Com., Mba And Other Professional Courses. Even A Layman Who Is Interested In Knowing Basics Of Management Principles And Communication Skill Will Find This Book Extremely Useful.

Quality assurance (QA) in open and distance learning (ODL) can be a contentious issue. Some argue that it should be judged by the same criteria and methods as face-to-face education, while others claim that it is so different in its organization, enrolments and operations that conventional QA mechanisms cannot apply. Some advocate the use of specific guidelines and standards for e-learning; others believe that, regardless of the technology, the basic principles of quality teaching and learning should apply. Providers who have enjoyed freedom from external scrutiny may resist attempts at external regulation and auditing and look upon QA as yet another imposition of corporatization and bureaucracy on education. Others see it as a means of establishing a culture of quality, self-reflection and self-improvement. There is little research-based literature to guide policy-makers, managers and practitioners in applying QA in education and training to ensure the right balance is found between accountability and autonomy, as well as assuring quality for the time and costs involved. In this respect, Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is a book that is long overdue. It explains what is involved in QA and accreditation in education. It describes and analyzes applications of these practices in open, distance, dual-mode and conventional universities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, looking at open schooling, e-learning in conventional schools, non-formal adult and community education, and corporate and small-to-medium enterprises. Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is edited and authored by experts with extensive international experience in ODL, e-learning and QA who give careful consideration to the possibilities and challenges involved. The book will be an invaluable guide for all policy-makers, managers, practitioners and researchers in the field.

A research network has examined how quality management is implemented in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe and what the consequences are for the qualification needs of employees. The research has taken place within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme, which is an action programme of the European Commission DG XXII - Education Training and Youth. This book presents conclusions including three parts: "Results" deriving from the sector studies - specialised "Scientific contributions" of network partners - "Action-oriented dialogue" documenting comments of key actors in vocational training from the participating countries. Special objectives are: Support of quality-oriented development of SMEs and their staff; Support of quality-oriented development of vocational education and training; Support of implementation requirements including regional aspects.

The Institute of Medicine study Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001) recommended that an interdisciplinary summit be held to further reform of health professions education in order to enhance quality and patient safety. Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality is the follow up to that summit, held in June 2002, where 150 participants across disciplines and occupations developed ideas about how to integrate a core set of competencies into health professions education. These core competencies include patient-centered care, interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. This book recommends a mix of approaches to health education improvement, including those related to oversight processes, the training environment, research, public reporting, and leadership. Educators, administrators, and health professionals can use this book to help achieve an approach to education that better prepares clinicians to meet both the needs of patients and the requirements of a changing health care system.

'Oakland on the New Quality Management' shows managers how to implement a Total Quality Management strategy throughout all activities and thereby achieve top quality performance overall, not just focusing on product or service quality. The text addresses the issues of implementing TQM, teamwork, and changes in culture, and emphasizes the integration of TQM into the strategy of the organization with specific advice on how to implement TQM. Topics covered include quality function deployment (QFD), communications and quality strategy, measurement and benchmarking, and teamwork for culture change, including the 'Drive' model. Ten points are presented to aid senior management in their thinking on commitment, culture and communication issues.

"The book describes the design rules required to document, implement, and demonstrate quality management system effectiveness in compliance with the latest version of the ISO 9000 International Standard. This systematic and engineering approach simplifies the many complexities in maintaining compliance with ISO standards. This hands-on guide is packed with tips and insights the author has garnered from personally designing quality management systems that integrate organizational strategy with quality management. Moreover, the book helps professionals create meaningful documentation and a user-friendly, informative quality manual that together form the core of an effective and responsive quality management system."--Jacket.