Effective Teaching of Quality and Ways to Make it Stick

Abstract

MSOR Connections Nov 2004 Vol 4 No 4 Editors’ note: See end of this article for a useful summary of acronyms used in this article. This paper reviews aspects of the teaching of Quality to undergraduate Business students to a standard that combines the requirements of the Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA), Body of Knowledge (BOK) and Six Sigma. The paper reviews the aspects of Quality that can be taught University wide. The history of the Undergraduate BA Degree in Business and Quality Management at The Nottingham Trent University is presented showing how change within the University contributed to the change in the course. The change of the course is discussed with reference to the statistical elements of Quality. Encompassing both aspects of statistical thinking and business skill is of prime importance. Knowledge transfer partnerships sponsored jointly by companies and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) attempt to bridge the gap between study and practice by employing graduates and providing academic guidance. Placing students in industry as part of their undergraduate studies is also effective. The reverse situation is currently supported by a large grant from the European Social Fund so that a university-based group can train employees of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in statistical thinking skills at the university as part of the professional development of the employees.