Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On completion of this subject it is expected that students will be able to list core principles of quality management and comment critically on their implications; define quality in terms of its historical perspective and the role it plays in leading organisations today; differentiate between quality management and quality assurance; describe the economic basis for quality; define the paradigm shift from traditional management to that of a quality-based, customer-driven culture of continuous improvement, and describe and critique alternative approaches to implementation of quality management principles and practices in organisations.
Synopsis This unit explores the application of quality management principles and practices to achieve superior business performance through sustainable transformation to a customer driven, quality based culture of continuous improvement. Topics covered in this subject include a brief history of quality management, quality jargon, the importance of processes, quality assurance, cost of poor quality, productivity, customer orientation, customer-supplier relationships, variation and its implications for management, managing with facts and data, statistical methods, quality award processes, employee involvement, senior management commitment and leadership for continuous improvement. The importance of individual and organisational learning will be reinforced in the context of achieving continuous improvement.
Assessment Syndicate project: (3000 words): 30% + Individual assignment: (2500 words): 25% + Syndicate presentation (750 words): 10% + Examination (2 hours): 35%