Discussion 1: Managing Quality
This week, one of the areas you have been reading about is the importance of managing quality within an organization. Despite how efficient and low cost a business might be, if the quality of its product is low or its customer service is non-existent, it will not likely succeed in the long run.
Consider what you have learned about making quality a part of the entire planning and implementation process. In particular, recall the approaches to quality improvement supported by Deming and Juran that were introduced in your reading.
To prepare for this Discussion, consider the following:
Compare and contrast the Deming and Juran approaches to quality improvement. Consult resources in addition to your textbook for more in-depth information on their philosophies of quality. If you wish, you may also do some outside reading and discuss Phillip Crosby as well.
With that in mind:
Post a 250- to 300-word statement that addresses the following:
Describe one of the Deming and Juran approaches to quality improvement and how its use might affect a company.
What would be some of the advantages? What would be some of the initial difficulties that may be encountered during implementation? Explain why.
Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.
Discussion 2: Group Case Study Project
Each week, as you consider the Crocs: Revolutionizing an Industry's Supply Chain Model for Competitive Advantage case study, you will have two Group Project assignments to complete. One will involve a Group Discussion and the other will be an Individual Assignment. The information from both parts will be used for your final Group Case Study Project. For more information, go to the Group Project area of the course navigation menu.
The Individual Assignment in each week will help you to focus your analysis of the case, apply course concepts, and accomplish the course Learning Objectives. You and your group members should discuss the best answers to the question or questions presented. Each member of the group is required to post a response to the assigned questions in the Group Discussion Board.
Read the Crocs: Revolutionizing an Industry's Supply Chain Model for Competitive Advantage case study in your course text. For your Group Discussion this week, do the following:
Post a 250- to 350-word response that addresses the following:
How does Crocs assure quality planning, control, and improvement in its operations?
How has technology been used to improve the quality and efficiency of the company's production process?
While you are not required to respond to your colleagues' individual Discussion posts, you are encouraged to do so. Remember, you are required to also answer this question with your assigned group during the preparation of the Group Case Study Project and include a group response in the appropriate sections of your final Group Case Study Project.
Project: Case Study Project
Read the Crocs: Revolutionizing an Industry's Supply Chain Model for Competitive Advantage case study in your course text. After reviewing the information in this case study and the Learning Resources for this week, complete the following:
Submit and post to the Discussion Board a 250- to 350-word response to the following questions:
Assume that you are a judge for the Malcolm Baldrige Award. Using Table 8.4 on in your text, how would you evaluate Crocs' for this prestigious award?
Briefly describe the Baldrige Award. State each category of evaluation and describe Crocs' performance in each category. Recommend a point award for each category based on the company's performance.
Note: In addition to submitting your paper to the submission link below, post it to the Discussion 3 thread in the corresponding Forum of the Group Discussion Board. The Group Discussion board can be found in the Groups area.