Park University Total Quality Management Discussion

Achieving and sustaining success is the goal of company or organization. The principles of TQM are built on the philosophy of continuous improvement. Yet at times, these techniques and philosophies have failed businesses and organizations. We know from HA 684 that management must lead the effort and be supported of its principles and practices. We know too that improvement projects must be reject defects or reduce variation to achieve lasting success.From what you know about TQM and other continuous quality initiatives, determine if efforts either within your organization or another business have been successful.

Interview two or three people who participated in quality improvement efforts in the past. Tell respondents that you need about 15 minutes of their valuable time. Ask them the following questions (or questions similar to these):

What was your overall impression of the activities and its successes?

Does management support the effort so that it continues today?

• If not, what do you think went wrong?
• What correction would you propose?

What techniques or tools do you still use?

• If none, why not?
• What is the impact of not using techniques or tools?
• Did everyone in the organization “buy in” to the philosophy, training, and application of tools and practices?

If no, why do you think that some felt positively and others felt less so?

• Explain how this perception could be changed.
• What is your lasting impression of these efforts?
• Did it change the organization?

Did it meet some objective or goal set by management?

• Does the organization function better today as a result of this effort?