An organisation that has recently been recognized for its quality management.
For this option select an organisation that has recently been recognized for its quality management. Examples of the types of recognition that would make a suitable case for your report are:
Recently obtained ISO 9001 certification or recently had its certification renewed.
Passed a quality assurance standard set by a buyer, such as a supplier gaining accreditation to supply a supermarket or retail group.
Made progress implementing Six Sigma or some other advanced quality management technique.
Winner of a business excellence competition, such as an organisation recognised in the Australian Organisational Excellence Awards or the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards
An organisation claiming a significant market success based on a quality management achievement.
The example you select may involve a high-profile organisation whose quality achievement has attracted media attention, or it may be a local example you are familiar with. It is recommended that you select an example that others have reported on, as this will provide you with information to draw on for your report. The websites of business excellence award organisations can be helpful in providing examples.
Your investigation of the case should be reported in four parts, in the following order.
1. Background to the quality success A brief explanation of what has been achieved, how the achievement was made (in terms of the immediate causes) and what the consequences were for the organisation and customers. This section will also include a background summary of the organisation, its size, the goods and services it provides, its market, and related information.
2. Underlying cause With reference to appropriate theories and/or models, explain what assisted the organisation to make its quality achievement. This is where you provide a detailed explanation of how the organisation made its achievement. For example, this may involve highlighting possible investment in staff training, learning from past experiences, setting of a new vision for the organisation, a change of leadership, or investment in quality management systems.
3. Quality management systems and strategies Identify and discuss quality management systems and/or strategies the organisation has used to improve its quality management, then select and explain one you think has played a particularly important role in the organisation’s achievements.
4. Improving quality management Using relevant theory and/or best practice, explain what the organisation should do to maintain its quality success and what it can do to further strengthen its quality performance. Outline the benefits expected from the steps being taken.
content You should include the following in each section:
Executive summary Highlights key points and overall outcomes.
Introduction – outline of the organisation and report contents Background information: Briefly describe the context in which you are preparing your report, introduce your organisation, and in a few sentences explain what the reader can expect to find in the report.
Analysis The analysis discusses and interprets material and evidence related to your analysis of the quality failure or success. As well as information relating to the individual organisation, make connections to quality management theory and models that have been covered in the course. Any opinions expressed should be supported by evidence or logical justifications. The analysis section should be structured around the four parts identified in the description of the assignment:
Background to the quality failure/success.
Underlying cause of the quality failure/success.
Quality management systems and strategies.
Improving quality management.
Conclusion A conclusion that follows on from the analysis should be presented. The conclusion should reflect on the analysis, provide your overall evaluations of the case, and try to present general lessons for quality management. (Word Limit 3000)