Among the three important managerial indicators, quality, cost and productivity, the human history of quality is far more long‐standing and quality is the only item of common concern to both manufacturer and customer: quality is a more “human” concept than either cost or productivity. Senior managers’ appeals to improve quality are more easily accepted and difficult to refuse than calls to cut cost or improve productivity. Quality is a powerful source of employees’ empowerment. A company’s basic business philosophy is of fundamental importance to make itself attractive to its employees and customers, as well as its shareholders, and to continue to develop healthily instead of merely pursuing profit. Because of the nature of this quality, it is extremely important to talk to everyone in the company about their basic philosophy regarding quality and the quality management activities to ensure that quality. Strong sense of responsibility of employees is indispensable to achieve the work aims, and the following two conditions must be fulfilled: the aims of the work must be clearly stated; and the people must be given as great a degree of freedom as possible in the means and methods by which they can achieve the aims. Also outlines the steps leading to creativity.
Article navigation
Research Article|
October 01 1997
Quality as a source of empowerment
Yoshio Kondo
Yoshio Kondo
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Online ISSN: 1758-6887
Print ISSN: 0954-478X
© MCB UP Limited
1997
The TQM Magazine (1997) 9 (5): 357–363.
Citation
Kondo Y (1997), "Quality as a source of empowerment". The TQM Magazine, Vol. 9 No. 5 pp. 357–363, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/09544789710178640
Download citation file:
278
Views
New and popular articles
Suggested Reading
Why employee empowerment is not just a fad
Leadership & Organization Development Journal (July,1996)
Creating new futures in turbulent times
Empowerment in Organizations (December,1998)
Validating Rotter’s (1966) locus of control scale with a sample of not‐for‐profit leaders
Management Research News (June,2001)
Two questions which opened the door to organizational growth
Journal of Workplace Learning (July,1997)
Humor ‐ an empowerment tool for the 1990s
Empowerment in Organizations (June,1996)
Related Chapters
Multiple Literacies
Creativity 360 Degrees: Exploring the Dynamics of the Creative Industries in Southeast Europe
Entrepreneurship as Empowerment: Knowledge Spillovers and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Entrepreneurship as Empowerment: Knowledge Spillovers and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Corruption – Personal, Organizational and Social – in A. D. Miller's Snowdrops
Applied Ethics: Remembering Patrick Primeaux
Recommended for you
These recommendations are informed by your reading behaviors and indicated interests.
