Innovation outside these boundaries and reduces the

innovation outside these boundaries, and reduces the differentiation which
such programs profess to engender
 The emphasis on single-task, specially formed groups shifts the focus
away from the ordinary, daily bread-and-butter
Of course, these criticisms do not invalidate the ideas of Quality but are simply to
suggest that the principles might well be viewed from a new angle - and applied
at a different level.
What is "Quality"?
Quality management may be defined as: The act of overseeing all activities and
tasks needed to maintain a desired level of excellence. This includes creating
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and implementing quality planning and assurance, as well as quality control and
quality improvement. It is also referred to as total quality management (TQM). 7
Team Quality
While the ongoing survival of a corporation may rest primarily with Senior
Management, the team leader is responsible for the fate of the rest of the team.
The Team Leader has the authority and the power to determine the work culture
of the workers.
By deliberately applying the principles of quality the Team Leader can gain for
the team the same benefits which Quality can provide for a corporation.
The team themselves often provide the ideas that are best for them. The team
leader should aim to be a catalyst, by prompting the team members, and at the
same time leading by example.
Getting Started
Quality is not something that will be achieved overnight. In order for quality to be
sustained, it must be habitual and become an accustomed practice. The
achievement of quality requires ongoing training which does not necessarily
have to be formal.
Below are two methods by which management can ensure that the concept of
quality becomes habitual to their staff.
 The first idea is to become enthusiastic about one aspect at a time, and
initially look for a quick kill. Find a problem and start to talk about it with
the whole team; do not delegate it to an individual but make it an issue for
everybody. Choose some work-related problem like "how to get the right
information in time" and solicit everybody's views and suggestions - and
get the problem solved. Demand urgency against a clear target. There is
no need to allocate large amounts of resource or time to this, simply raise
the problem and make a fuss. When a solution comes, praise it by
rewarding the whole team, and ensure that the aspects of increased
efficiency /productivity /calm are highlighted since this will establish the
criteria for "success".
 Next, find another problem and repeat. The second idea is the regular
weekly meeting to discuss Quality. Of course meetings can be complete
time wasters, so this strategy requires care.