ds, closely monitoring many different aspects of the work process, and calculating appropriate rates of pay. The costs associated with these activities may well offset the benefits gained from the activities. Another problem that arises with scientific management is that there may be strong work resistance to attempts by management to measure effort and productivity. This resistance may be shown in slowdowns in productivity when workers are aware that they are being observed and measured (McCann 2004).
TRADITIONAL (WESTERN) APPROACHES TO QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Traditional Western approaches to quality management have focused on establishing and monitoring metrics that can be quantified. This has led to product-based quality management, manufacturing-based quality management and value-based quality management (Dahlsten 2003). Often, these three sometimes-conflicting quality management techniques are found within the same organization.
Product-based quality is precise and measurable. Differences in quality therefore reflect differences in the quantity of some ingredient or attribute. Goods can be ranked according to the amount of the desired attribute they possess. Product-based definitions of quality sometimes lead to the implication that durability can be equated with quality. Manufacturing based definitions of quality focus on supply as opposed to demand. These definitions are concerned with engineering and manufacturing practices. Here, quality can be defined as conformance to requirements. Once a design or specification has been established, deviation from that design or specification implies a reduction in quality. Value-based definitions of quality move the manufacturing based definition a step further. Here, quality is defined in terms of cost and price, and a quality product is one that provides performance or conformance at an acceptable price or cost. Products which are overpriced, or products whose costs are...