On the Leading Edge of Innovation: A Comparative Study of Innovation Practices

Susan J. Harper, PhD, is president of Synergy Consulting LLC, Chicago, IL 60646-6036. Selwyn W. Becker, PhD, is professor emeritus, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Chicago, IL 30458

Experiential Learning and TQM Principles: Teaching Behavioral Science in a Business School

"Teaching methods and content of two Business School behavioral science courses arc described. The evolution of the first course, Small Group Dynamics, from 100% lecture to 100% experiential learning is described. The effects on student acceptance and ability to apply the concepts are discussed. Finally, Total Quality Management (TOM) principles were applied in evaluation of students’ performance. Copies of measuring instruments are provided. The Laboratory to Achieve Organizational Excellence provides students opportunities to work with client organization managers to effect cultural changes in an organization in order to initiate TQM principles. The problems encountered provided rich opportunities to learn from experience.

Self-Assessment of Total Quality Management Programs

Total quality management (TQM) has been increasingly accepted as a management philosophy. Criteria such as those contained in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) often guide TQM implementation. However, reports indicate that fully assessing TQM efforts is difficult and hiring experts to help with this task is expensive. Using survey instruments is an attractive alternative to full-scale assessment. Despite the availability of many papers covering organizational performance assessment, few instruments specifically address TQM evaluation. Furthermore, none of the TQM assessment instruments has been subjected to rigorous validation; thus, only modest confidence can be placed in results obtained from their use. This article proposes a quick and cost-effective instrument that is a simple questionnaire designed to assist organizations in conducting self-evaluations of their TQM programs. The proposed instrument is based on the seven categories of the MBNQA criteria and was developed in cooperation with the Excellence in Missouri Foundation, which administers the Missouri Quality Award (MQA). This article highlights how questionnaire results can be used to guide further TQM implementation efforts. © Taylor & Francis