From Quality to Business Excellence: A Systems Approach to...

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 250 pages
• Published by: ASQ Quality Press February 1, 2003
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0873895789
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0873895781
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

Reader Reviews
Step out of your typical "Quality" box and read a state-of-the-art book that will get you thinking differently! In this book Cobb pushes the envelope about quality systems thinking and argues that it's time quality professionals coalesce the many programs and international specifications offered in industry. By doing so, Cobb suggests that this integrated systems approach will be more effective and produce business results that are long lasting. Indeed, today's quality industry has reached a quagmire of program-du-jours - Six Sigma, ISO 9001:2000, maturity tables, to name just a few - that may leave some people wondering how they all fit together to drive results. Cobb's vision, in adopting "systems thinking", says that it's ok - YES! IT'S OK!! - to not limit your company to one approach; but to pick and choose the best management tool for each situation and integrate them! His book has a number of helpful visuals such as systems roadmaps, process models, alignment of business metrics, and a lifecycle model for complex improvement initiatives. His fourth chapter "Designing Integrated Management Systems," drives home the point through examples and that our changing industry "...requires greater alignment among technology, systems, people, and organizational units." Cobb thoroughly and efficiently describes typical programs and their linkages, and surprises the reader by addressing other enablers such as cultural and behavioral factors, knowledge management, and the strong use of cross-functional integration of metrics to drive customer value. His book does fall short, however, in citing a process for translating ever-changing incoming customer requirements into the company's integrated quality systems. Overall, this is an excellent book to drive innovative thinking and paradigm shifts about quality and implementing change. This definitely is not your "daddy's quality system" anymore! Comment | | (Report this)