Ten Things Management Can Do To Destroy a Quality Culture

[Rob Nix]

The attached was written originally as a "light" introduction to a class, but I suppose it could stand as an article on its own.

This is a tongue-in-cheek consideration of the things top managers do to hamper the development of a quality culture in an organization. With it however, are the thought inducing "opposites" (mentally transpose, "then what can be done to help improve quality?").

 

[ccochran]

Rob,

Nice work on a smooth and insightful article. My two favorite principles that you identified were, "Regarding goals, make sure all goals are short term," and, "Finally, avoid closure at all costs." These two problems infect the majority of organizations I work with, especially the tendency to avoid closure.

Craig

 

[Craig H.]

Rob:

GREAT article. I especially like the "hook" at the end - the thing is unfinished. Hilarious. The rest, well it would be funny if...

Craig

 

[Steve Prevette]

I love it. Very good. I am going to pass the link to this to a few folks here.

- Steve

 

[sal881vw]

Great

If you will allow me, it is more a beacon than a "light"

 

[Greg B]

I Love It!!!

Rob, Rob, Rob....what are we going to do with you?????
I love it. I think I'll print it on official looking paper with our logo and it can become the Quality Policy. I wonder how that will go down with the registrar??
I don't think I'll send in an article this month as the competition just got a bit stiffer. I wonder if I have the guts to send this to my Boss wiuthout putting a disclaimer on it?
Favourite chapters:

Chpt 1: This had to be written with my current employer in mind.
Chpt 3: I love the reference to 'on time' then arriving late. We recently all had to attend courses on 'meetings' (Agenda, behaviour etc) at the next meeting the managers (did not attend the training) arrived late, phones ringing and vibrating all over the table, interjected, procrastinated and left in time for their lunch appointments.

Thanks for the link to the 'Australian Continuous Improvement Group'.
PS: I was going to place a myriad of laughing emoticons in this post but for some reason they are not appearing on my PC. So take it as read that I am seriously laughing

Greg B

 

[UBD Anders]

Thank's for puting my problems on paper...
Have you been visiting us??

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Brilliant piece of writing Rob.... Really...

My only concern is that those who would benefit the most from reading it are unlikley to do so... They are too busy killing the...

/Claes

 

[Mike S.]

Rob,

Gee, thanks. You've convinced me that you have written the entire business operation manual for my company, and that any minor hopes I have for change are simply smoke and mirrors. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh...

But anyway.... Bravo! I'd say it rates a 9.5 (that Russian judge alway's comes in a bit low...). It is quite funny and would rate a hilarious if it were not for the sadness that creeps in as I realize the accuracy of the darn thing.

I suggest you send it for publication to some prominent Management or Quality magazines.

 

[Groo3]

I'm cautiously optimistic... I know most will see the humor, but I'm worried about those that will be taking notes... ;-)