SUMMARY
The article talks about two very important concepts that are gaining increasing importance day by day; the Total Quality Management (TQM) and the Management of Environment (EM). The idea is to design the products while keeping in view the related environmental concerns. Organizations are now determined to make environment friendly products because the customers are very skeptical and they evaluate the organization on the basis of its CSR. Both the concepts are now widely used in every step of production in order to be more cost effective and competitive. These two concepts run in parallel to each other so therefore an integrated quality model can be formed from the combination of these two. This will enable the organizations to satisfy all stakeholders in a much better way. The article talks about the order and level of implementation of both the concepts. The EFQM model proves to be helpful in effectively inculcating both of these concepts in management. The article talks about combination of above mentioned two concepts as “Quality Environment management” (QEM). This combination will facilitate the organizations to deal simultaneously with issues related to environment and quality (Charantimath, 2003).
The article is aimed to find out the reasons to integrate QM and EM and also to find ways how to consolidate both the concepts into a unified model. The article is comprised of four major sections; a brief introduction covering the similarities of EM and QM, second portion entails why there is a need to integrate EM and QM, third part of discussion covers how EFQM model can help to formulate QEM and the final portion includes the conclusion and recommendations on the topic to give a meaningful reflection to the reader. The article talks about Nine important aspects of an organization that are leadership, people, strategy, partners, process and the results of customers, people, society and organization, and talks about how the management should productively work out with these Nine aspects.
KEY LEARNING POINTS
1) In today’s business world organizations are increasingly incorporating emerging concepts of QM and EM.
2) All the decision related to design and outlay of product, use of technology, all steps involved in production and the customer support department are now being based on the these two concepts.
3) The similarity and parallel implementation of these two concepts lead to fusion of both into an integrated model of management named as “QEM”.
4) QEM model helps organizations to satisfy all of its stakeholders than just primly serving customers.
5) The implementation order and integration level of both the concepts have been categorized separately.
6) QM system can be first establish before EM, first introduce the EM system and then QM or both can be simultaneously made into practice.
7) The level of integration varies from low to high integration degree.
8) EFQM model has been referred as a valuable tool to design the integrated model of QEM.
9) Two important questions have been raised in this article.
Why to integrate EM and QM?
What are the best possible available ways to merge these two concepts into an integrated QEM model?
10) The difference between the two concepts is that QM is purely related to tailor products according to needs, demands and specifications of the client. On the other hand EM focuses not only on the issues of clients but also on the concerns of all the possible stakeholders of the organizations like, suppliers, distributers, government and public agencies, the environment activists and the competitors etc.
11) There are several similarities between QM and EM and that is the reason to adopt these concepts in order to make any organization more competitive, strong patent capability and other efficient factors that positively foster the success process of organization.
12) The reasons to adopt QM and EM are both internally and externally driven.
Internally: Management feels the need to introduce these concepts for smooth flow of production process by minimizing the losses and increasing the efficiency level. This results in modified work procedures and complete employee satisfaction.
Externally: To maintain a favorable image in corporate world and also to acquire the skills to meet the changing demands of the stakeholders. This helps the organizations to tap new markets, band equity, high volume of sales and satisfied and loyal customers.
13) The combined and thoroughly integrated model of QEM offers following important benefits to the organization.
Minimize the chances of step duplication therefore enhances the efficiency
Eliminate bureaucracy by avoiding the duplication of laws and rules
Perfect alignment of resources and objective
Reducing the cost associated with audits
Proficient training sessions and effective communications through all levels of management
14) Companies should be thoroughly aware of the disputes, barriers and possible obstacle in the way to reap layers of benefits from integrated models.
15) QEM and EM models positively impact the competitive standing of the organization by increasing its differentiation and reducing its production cost and chances become high to get bigger share of market.
16) The implementation of these models in process flow of an organization gives strength to intellectual property by making difficult for others to imitate.
17) The enforcement of QM and EM demands a complete change in organizational culture to make long run plans while considering both quality and environment related issues.
18) Five enablers and four results from EFQM model have also been discussed.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The most renowned organization of my country is Emirates Group and has been successfully operating since 1985.The management of Emirates Group is highly skilled and religiously follows the TQM concepts (Kanji, 1995). The management ensures unprecedented level of services to all the passengers on board and dedicated to provide perfect and matchless services to people flying through emirates. They have high quality standards of services they provide and have won international recognition and award of excellent services. They value their employees and give generous compensation packages and proper career progression paths to gain more commitment and loyalty of employees that ultimately leads to flawless work flow. The management is completed devoted to capitalize on resources to expand business by reducing the wastage and less pollution. The Emirates Group is environmentally very concerned and contributes to preserve the environment .Billions of dollars are spend by the management to buy eco-friendly and highly modified aircrafts. The concepts of QM and EM are fully utilized by the management in rendering superior services to services and the proof of their compliance with the standards is their brand image and brand equity.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The article sheds light on very important and technically crucial concepts that are essential for the success of any organization. I personally believe that combination QM and EM together gives a very competitive and strong position to organization and greatly facilitate in acquiring cost effective production process, more number of sales, happy and loyal customers, satisfied environmentalist activist (Capon, 2009). Therefore it is highly imperative for all the organizations of my country and specially the oil producing companies to carefully consider QM and EM in order to efficiently handle stakeholders. Both the concepts will help managers to thoroughly evaluate the internal and external challenges and required set of skills to remain competitive in marketplace.
LEARNING REFLECTION
The article projects attention to very productive models of management and gives an insight to techniques that can help an organization to become a market leader. No organization can survive by solely focusing on the needs of clients and similarly survival is also not possible by just focusing the environment. Therefore the need of the hour is to use both the concepts in an integrated model of QEM to ensure success (Rodiek, 2008). This article reflects an in-depth literature understanding of the QM and EM concepts and also emphasizes the use of EFQM model in integrating these two concepts. Article says that both the concepts have little dissimilarity but still there far more similarities that support the idea to use both the concepts in an integrated model of QEM. Mangers should carry out further empirical research based studies to fully implement the concepts of QEM based on the clauses of EFQM model. Article gives an in depth analysis of EFQM model by discussing five enablers (Leadership, strategy, people, partners and process) and four results (customers, people society and organizational) to help in understanding the role of EFQM in integrating these two concepts.
References
Charantimath, (2003), Total Quality Management, New Delhi, Pearson Education India.
G. Kanji. (1995), Total Quality Management, New York; NY, Springer.
Claire Capon, (2009), Understanding the Business Environment, Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Christian Rodiek, (2008), External Environmental Analysis, Santa Cruz; CA, GRIN Verlag.
