Quality Management Principles: Part 3
The quality management system standards of ISO 9000:2008 series are based on eight quality management principles. These principles can be used by senior management as a framework to guide their organizations towards improved performance.
This is the third of eight articles which provide a general perspective on these quality management principles , each giving an overview of one of these principles and showing how they can be applied to form a basis for performance improvement and organizational excellence.
Principle 3: Involvement of people
People at all levels are the essence of an organization and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organization's benefit.
How to apply the principle:
Ensure clear reporting lines are established and that all staff know what they are. Make sure your staff understand the importance of their contribution and role within the organisation. Once staff feel empowered, they are more likely to identify constraints to their performance, accept ownership of problems and take responsibility for solving them. It is vital that staff see constraints and problems as an opportunity for improvement rather than a threat to their position.
Implement a system of performance review. If you empower your staff they will evaluate their own performance against their personal goals and objectives and actively seek opportunities to enhance their competence, knowledge and experience provided this is recognised and acted upon within the organisation.
Encourage staff to share knowledge and experience, and to openly discuss problems and issues rather than competing with each other.
Implement and disseminate an effective method for recording non-conformance, corrective and preventive actions as a mechanism for reporting and controlling the resolution of problems and issues.
Key benefits:
Staff will be more motivated, committed and involved within the organisation. This will lead to greater innovation and creativity in furthering the organisation's objectives. People will be accountable for their own performance and will feel more in control of their own destiny, and will consequently be eager to participate in and contribute to continual improvement.
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