Implementation of Total Quality Management, Lessons Learned

Managing quality is nothing new, but it increasingly become more challenging. Demands form customers, flatter organizations, measuring and assessing outcomes, stiffer competition for resources, technology, environmental concerns and others, all have created changes in the workplace for which enhanced leadership is needed. TQM, CQI, TQL, (managing quality), other acronyms can be summarized as a means of moving an organization into the new millennium with a keen focus on people, service, efficiencies, effectiveness and excellence. It is not an accident. It is the result of a clear, well-directed strategically focused thinking. Attention to quality encourages individuals and teams throughout organizations to continually learn, think and contribute ideas on how to explore processes that affect them. The organization must change into a learning organization that seeks to continually improve its processes and services. This learning attitude requires a cultural shift from autocratic to more participatory leadership. This presentation will examine the principles and lessons learned form implementation of quality initiatives from different organizations. Many of the themes shared are independent of the source and, as such, may be helpful in validating what you are doing or give you ideas on leading and implementing change within your organizations.