As a Strategic Management instructor recently stated in one of my classes: In the mid-80s quality assurance was a big thing. It used to be huge way for companies to differentiate themselves.
Key words: used to be. Apparently now, it's just expected standard practice. Or at least so the Prof says. hmmm...
Being a "re-entry" student (very PC way of saying you ain't 20 no more), I have had the interesting experience of sitting in a class of energetic bright young minds and listening to what they have been taught about quality. So many of the students talk about having to have quality in business but yet, I see very few of the textbooks from this program really doing it justice. A little scarey actually. How many higher education institutions even have a segment of their business programs talking about quality assurance anyway? Would be an interesting data point to investigate. I'd guess very few.
At any rate, the view seems to be that quality is real important but no one can really tell you how to get there. Gee, wonder where I've heard that before.
It really is a sad statement of affairs that in the U.S. we are not focusing more on this very basic topic: how do you get there. Has quality assurance become such a buzz word that it has lost all meaning?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Topic of the Week: Differentiator or Just Standard Practice
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1 comment:
It seems that more often than not, quality in workmanship is promised during the inception of a project but as it is faced with delays and cost overruns, it is the first thing that is cut. I heard rumors that a certain pipeline company is a prime example. They are removing personal under the pretence that the quality of design and construction is so outstanding that automation will solve all problems. They can't even swap mainline pumps without someone intervening.
BTW Great Blog site!!!!
Flyboy
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