The effects of quality management - a survey of Swedish quality professionals

In this study, the effects of the different models and tools of quality management are examined. The purpose has been to identify differences in the effects generated by different quality management models and tools.A questionnaire has been mailed to 500 Swedish quality professionals. The questions concerned their companies adoption of the values of TQM, the use of the models and tools of TQM and the effects they notice. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis have been carried out. The findings show that there is statistical correlation between the adoption of the values of TQM and successful quality management. The usefulness of the Swedish Quality Award, the European Quality Award and ISO 9000 as well as several of the quality management tools is also indicated. Regarding ISO 9000 specific effects have been foundA delimitation of the study is that the financial outcomes of the quality management practices are not measured but only the managers perceptions of effects produced. The implication for further research is an increased knowledge of the different effects of the quality management practices and the significance of the values, particularly three values that were included in the multiple regression model.The specific findings on the effects of ISO 9000 are useful for managers when implementing the standard. The results of the study also indicate the importance of emphasising the values for successful quality management.This study has provided more detailed knowledge of the effects of the different quality management practices, particularly of ISO 9000

The effects of quality management - a survey of Swedish quality professionals

In this study, the effects of the different models and tools of quality management are examined. The purpose has been to identify differences in the effects generated by different quality management models and tools.A questionnaire has been mailed to 500 Swedish quality professionals. The questions concerned their companies adoption of the values of TQM, the use of the models and tools of TQM and the effects they notice. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis have been carried out. The findings show that there is statistical correlation between the adoption of the values of TQM and successful quality management. The usefulness of the Swedish Quality Award, the European Quality Award and ISO 9000 as well as several of the quality management tools is also indicated. Regarding ISO 9000 specific effects have been foundA delimitation of the study is that the financial outcomes of the quality management practices are not measured but only the managers perceptions of effects produced. The implication for further research is an increased knowledge of the different effects of the quality management practices and the significance of the values, particularly three values that were included in the multiple regression model.The specific findings on the effects of ISO 9000 are useful for managers when implementing the standard. The results of the study also indicate the importance of emphasising the values for successful quality management.This study has provided more detailed knowledge of the effects of the different quality management practices, particularly of ISO 9000

Quality Management in Health Care or for Health Care - or Both?

Quality management is well established in the industrial manufacturing sector. More recently, interest has started to grow in the service sector and notably in the area health care. Several health care organisations have started to use quality management in order to improve their operations. The experiences vary but several examples of successful practice exist.In a separate development, some researchers have very recently begun to study the effects that quality management has on the health of the employees in all kinds of organisations. It is reasonable to conceive that quality management could have beneficial effects on employee health by bringing in more humane and effective practices and thus improving the working conditions. Some studies indicate that this is the case but the amount of research into this field is still very limited.Bringing these two strands together raises interesting questions regarding the greater role of quality management in society. The societal value of quality management has been proposed by some of the leading authors in the area (e.g. Ishikawa and Deming) but is scarcely conceptualised in research.The empirical basis of the paper consists of three case studies. In the first study the general effects of quality management in a maternity clinic was studies. In the second study the effects of quality management practices on the health of the employees in a manufacturing company was examined. The third study brought the perspectives together in that the effects of quality management on the health of the employees in the casualty department of a major hospital were investigated

Quality Management in Health Care or for Health Care - or Both?

Quality management is well established in the industrial manufacturing sector. More recently, interest has started to grow in the service sector and notably in the area health care. Several health care organisations have started to use quality management in order to improve their operations. The experiences vary but several examples of successful practice exist.In a separate development, some researchers have very recently begun to study the effects that quality management has on the health of the employees in all kinds of organisations. It is reasonable to conceive that quality management could have beneficial effects on employee health by bringing in more humane and effective practices and thus improving the working conditions. Some studies indicate that this is the case but the amount of research into this field is still very limited.Bringing these two strands together raises interesting questions regarding the greater role of quality management in society. The societal value of quality management has been proposed by some of the leading authors in the area (e.g. Ishikawa and Deming) but is scarcely conceptualised in research.The empirical basis of the paper consists of three case studies. In the first study the general effects of quality management in a maternity clinic was studies. In the second study the effects of quality management practices on the health of the employees in a manufacturing company was examined. The third study brought the perspectives together in that the effects of quality management on the health of the employees in the casualty department of a major hospital were investigated