Small Business Consulting Firm Fosters Continuous Improvement ...

There are many management strategies for improving quality and efficiency within a company. Lean and six sigma are two that have gotten a lot of attention lately in the business world. However, these strategies and others like them often fail to bring about the long-term changes that they promise because a company lacks a commitment to quality improvement. A small business consulting firm like the Connell Curtis Group knows that the first step to improving quality is fostering a culture that values innovation and efficiency.

Continuous quality improvement, often referred to as CQI, is a theory of management that came out of the manufacturing sector. Continuous quality improvement means there is a long-term commitment to improving the processes and systems within an organization through changes in the culture within the company.? A quality improvement culture is both client-centered and data-driven. Creating a quality improvement culture at a company takes time and resources. A company may struggle to invest the initial time it takes to train personnel and then continually monitor the processes. However, just like exercising or cleaning your room it may take quite a commitment to begin with, but once it becomes a habit it will be easier to maintain and improve upon. That is why the commitment to quality needs to begin with the leaders of a company.

Whether a company has 10 employees or 10,000, it is up to the executive management team to prioritize quality improvement and communicate it to their employees. Creating an organized and efficient work environment takes time and training, and employees need to know that despite their workload, quality is their first priority. A company?s leadership is responsible for defining the purpose and attributes of a company?s commitment to quality. This may be summarized and communicated through the company?s mission statement, by a separate statement of their commitment to quality, or in their strategic plan. Whatever the mechanism, it needs to be well published and visible to everyone in the company.

While a continuous quality improvement culture starts at the top of the organization, it must also be supported and implemented throughout the entire firm?in all departments, at all levels, and with external stakeholders. It may take time to integrate the whole organization, but having buy-in from middle management to front line staff is important to ensure that all products and services meet quality standards, which is the foundation of CQI. Because employees are vital to fostering a work environment that emphasizes quality, don?t forget about the recruitment process. Integrate questions and scenarios into the interview process that allows you to evaluate whether they understand the values of CQI. New employees are an opportunity to integrate new ideas and encourage avenues for innovation among employees, but you need to be sure they will be a good fit in your organization.

Some academics and business strategists believe that continuous quality improvement is the best possible business culture because it fosters collaboration, flexibility, and above all, innovation. Small businesses are able to quickly adapt to the needs of their customers. However, as the company grows and develops more complex processes and systems, many organizations become unable to adapt to changes in the markets as quickly.? Therefore, committing to developing, implementing, and fostering a continuous quality improvement culture can keep your company from becoming rigid.? With help from a small business consulting firm like the Connell Curtis Group, you can make certain that your organization not only puts the best quality processes and procedures in place, but has a quality improvement culture that ensures your success.

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