Description
Write a 250 word response to the following student post:
According to Svensson and Wood (2005), Total Quality Management requires a multi-faceted way of thinking. It should include strategic planning, and measurable way doing things. An important value neglected in most TQM discussions and sadly even more so in the marketplace is that of ethics (Svensson, Wood 2005). In management, ethics and quality are crucial aspects of any organization (Svensson, Wood 2005). Svensson and Wood (2005) claim that the dynamics of business ethics is a function of time and culture (Svensson, Wood 2005). Meaning, business performance and ethics are affected by changes and ever changing contextual issues over a period of time (Svensson, Wood 2005). Ethics then is an important ingredient in social responsibility, and in the foundation of good capitalism. Organizations should exist to improve the quality of people's lives by producing goods and services (Svensson, Wood 2005). While producing goods and services, managers must realize the their purpose is not only to do the right things, but also to do things with quality (Svensson, Wood 2005). Ethical behavior must be an integrative factor within the productivity and quality management process because a better understanding of corporate responsibilities as well as providing a competitive edge may be achieved (Svensson, Wood 2005). A biblical framework of TQM and ethics include (Svensson, Wood 2005):
a focus on customers: THINK OF OTHERS MORE HIGHLY THAN OURSELVES!
Romans 13: 9-10, “Love your neighbor as yourself. Love dose no harm to a neighbor (customer); therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” NIV
management commitment: INTEGRITY, WALK IN THE LIGHT!
I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son purifies us from all sin.” NIV
everybody's commitment: COMMUNITY, BODY OF CHRIST!
Romans 12:4-6, “For just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not hall have the same function, so in Christ, we though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” NIV
focus on processes: EVERYTHING WITH EXCELLENCE
Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” NIV
continuous improvement: GROWING AND LEARNING
James1:4, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” NIV
Fact based decisions: COMMITMENT TO TRUTH!
Ephesians 6:12-14, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers of darkness and against the spiritual forces of evil. Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” NIV
So how did we get to the place in modern socity where ethics and quality divorced themselves from each other (Rossouw, 1994)? At the turn of the previous century, many declared God, philosophy and ethics to be dead (Rossouw, 1994). Theology and economy reacted in different ways to this challenge. Economists were pressured to stop talking about the ultimate ends and moral dimensions of economy (Rossouw, 1994). They started, focusing exclusively on the mechanics of economy (Rossouw, 1994). The main concern of economists was to unravel the components of the economic engine and manipulate them to secure economic performance seemingly void of any ethical framework (Rossouw, 1994).
The impact of these developments on the relation between theology and economy is enormous (Rossouw, 1994). Economists who restricted their work to economic engineering and who abandoned moral questions found it difficult to see what theologians and the church have to do with economics (Rossouw, 1994). Many of them are active and committed members of their churches (Rossouw, 1994). Sadly, many modern believers claim theology and economy are two isolated and different disciplines (Rossouw, 1994). There is a prevalent tragic belief that historical and biblical theology does not interfere with messy temporal matters, and a religion privatized to personal relations will not find it proper to become involved in large scale social matters such as contemporary economics (Rossouw, 1994).
Rossouw, G. J. (1994). Business ethics: Where have all the Christians gone? JBE JBE. Journal of Business Ethics, 13(7), 557. Retrieved from http://eres.regent.edu:2048/login?url=https://search-proquest- com.ezproxy.regent.edu/docview/198009280?accountid=13479
Svensson, G., & Wood, G. (2005). Business ethics in TQM: The qualities and spectrum zones of a case illustration. The TQM Magazine, 17(1), 19-34. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.regent.edu:2048/10.1108/09544780510573039