TQM has been identified as an approach that can be adopted to improve quality in business as well as in education. The main aim of this approach is to involve everybody in decision-making of the organization, in this case a school, with the purpose of achieving highest commitment from staff and customer satisfaction. TQM can be a way which can bring about changes in the education system. It is a philosophy with continuous improvement which can provide a set of practicable tools and techniques to meet the present and the future desires of any educational system. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the influence of TQM on school improvement in secondary schools in the Uthungulu District, Kwazulu-Natal. The questionnaires were handed to schools in the Uthungulu District which is made up of 5 circuits, namely, Umhlathuze Circuit, Umfolozi Circuit, Umlalazi Circuit, Mthonjaneni Circuit and Inkandla Circuit. The research concentrated mainly on School Management Teams (SMTs) and Post Level 1 educators (PL1 educators) from senior secondary schools (high schools). On the whole, respondents in the study area have shown a positive attitude towards understanding the significance of Total Quality Management principles in schools. The findings seem to suggest that everyone has a responsibility of encouraging implementation of TQM in schools. It is important to develop quality management systems, because without them, it is impossible to implement. The quality improvement teams should be empowered to manage themselves and provide programmes that will enable them to be more effective. The proposed model of the study provides information about basic elements and factors which need to be taken into cognisance during the TQM and implementation process. The model identifies the main principles of TQM with continuous improvement at the centre of them all. The main aim of implementing TQM in school should be continuous improvement. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Bakgrund: Under flera årtionden har företag arbetat med kvalitetsledning i syfte till att förbättra och utveckla sina verksamheter. Metoder och verktyg har fungerat som stöd för att möta företagets värderingar och möta de interna och externa kundernas behov med minskad mängd resurser. Nyligen utförda projekt har kunnat bekräfta att jämställdhetsintegrering fungerar som en effektiv metod vid förbättrings- och utvecklingsarbete. Metoden påstås ha positiv inverkan på företags prestanda genom bland annat förbättrad arbetsmiljö, förhöjd kreativ och innovativ förmåga hos medarbetare samt ökad förmåga att attrahera välutbildad personal. Förutom detta anses jämställdhetsintegrering även bidra till social hållbarhet och uppfylla FN:s globala mål snabbare, vilket i sin tur leder till hållbar utveckling. Syfte: Syftet med den här studien har varit att undersöka hur jämställdhetsintegrering och kvalitetsledning samverkar, samt hur jämställdhetsintegrering kan bidra till förbättring av byggprojekt. Metod: Studien har genomförts enligt fördjupad fallstudie på Skanska Fastigheter Göteborg. För att förstå fallföretagets problem och nuvarande situation utfördes kvalitativ metod med kvantitativ inslag. Studiens kvalitativ data syftade till att skapa grundlig förståelse av ämnesområdet och fallföretagets, medan inslag av kvalitativ data motsvarade statistik från fallföretaget och byggbranschen. Som analysmetod av studiens primära datainsamling utfördes en Tematisk analys och Voice Of The Customer Table (VOCT). Resultat: I studiens teoretiska referensram identifierades flera likheter mellan kvalitetsledning och jämställdhetsintegrering, där jämställdhetsintegrering ansågs betraktas som en metod för ständiga förbättringar. Efter undersökning av Skanskas nuvarande arbetssätt framgick det att det inte finns någon koppling mellan företagets kvalitetsarbete och jämställdhetsarbete. Det medför att jämställdhetsintegrering i projektet Götakvarteren kan innebära större förändring då nya tankegångar och arbetssätt måste upprättas. Däremot indikerade analysen av medarbetarnas behov att jämställda byggprojekt är fördelaktigt för företagets hållbara utveckling. Efter analysen kunde även åtgärder och rekommendationer tas fram på hur projektet Götakvarteren kan bli mer framgångsrikt och jämställt. Slutsats: Det finns en tydlig koppling mellan jämställdhetsintegrering och kvalitetsledning, där jämställdhetsintegrering kan argumenteras för att vara en kvalitetsmetod. Just som Skanskas nuvarande kvalitetsarbete bör jämställdhetsarbetet vara integrerat i den dagliga verksamheten och accepteras som en metod för ständiga förbättringar. Utifrån Skanskas nuvarande situation togs åtgärder fram på hur jämställdhetsintegrering kan bidra till kvalitetsarbete och skapa framgångsrika och jämställda byggprojekt. / Background: Over decades, companies have been integrating quality management to constantly improve and develop their businesses. Techniques and tools have been used as support to meet the company’s values, and to increase external and internal customer satisfaction with a reduce amount of resources. Recent projects have demonstrated that gender mainstreaming works as an effective approach for business improvement and development. The method is claimed to have a positive impact on the company’s business performance, for instance by improved working environment, increased creative and innovative capacity of employees and an increased ability to attract well-trained staff. In addition, it is considered that gender mainstreaming contributes to social sustainability and the achievement of the UN’s global goals faster, which in turn leads to sustainable development. Purpose: The purpose of this study has been to investigate how gender mainstreaming and quality management interact, and how gender mainstreaming can contribute to the improvement of construction projects. Methodology: The study has been carried out as an in-depth case study at Skanska Commercial Development Nordic in Gothenburg. In order to understand the business case, its problem and current situation, a qualitative methodology with quantitative data was made. The qualitative data was used to obtain a deeper understanding of the case, and the quantitative data consisted of statistics from the company and the construction industry. As method of analysis, a Thematic analysis and Voice Of The Customer Table (VOCT) was done to understand the needs of the employees at Skanska. Result: In the study’s theoretical framework, several similarities between gender mainstreaming and quality management were identified, in which gender mainstreaming could be seen as a technique within quality management. From the study of Skanska’s way of working, it emerged that there is no link between their work with quality and gender equality. That entails gender mainstreaming in the project Götakvarteren will involve major changes as new ideas and methods must be established. On the other hand, the analysis indicated that the employees need of an equal construction project would be beneficial for the company’s sustainable development. Based on the needs of the employees, recommendations have been given for how Götakvarteren could become profitable by becoming Skanska’s most equal project. Conclusion: There is a distinct link between gender mainstreaming and quality management, in which gender mainstreaming can be argued to be a technique within quality management. Just as Skanska’s current quality management system, the work with gender equality should be integrated in the daily activities and accepted as a method for continuous improvement. After identifying the company’s challenges, opportunities and needs, actions have been developed for how gender mainstreaming can contribute to successful and equal construction projects.

Submitted by Patrícia Valim Labres de Freitas (patricial) on 2016-04-01T17:52:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thiago Antonio Souza.pdf: 1549573 bytes, checksum: 50bb2fe3750913e23e67747ffad33743 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-01T17:52:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thiago Antonio Souza.pdf: 1549573 bytes, checksum: 50bb2fe3750913e23e67747ffad33743 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-23 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Hospitais brasileiros tipicamente convivem com um desnivelamento entre capacidade e demanda. Os subsistemas público e privado são incapazes de coordenar situações de falta e excesso de capacidade identificados, de forma concomitante, em suas respectivas estruturas. Custos tornam-se um elemento focal em ambos os casos, quer visando qualidade e segurança quer visando incremento de capacidade, enfocando áreas chave do serviço hospitalar: serviços cirúrgicos, de internação, de emergência e de diagnóstico. O Lean Healthcare, neste contexto, se torna uma filosofia possível para a mudança organizacional dos processos hospitalares visando o incremento de sua eficiência. Este estudo discute a aplicação de conceitos do Lean Healthcare em serviços cirúrgicos, com base em evidências coletadas de três estudos realizados integradamente em um hospital universitário de grande porte, pertencente ao subsistema de saúde público brasileiro. O primeiro estudo enfoca a análise de eficiência do centro cirúrgico, propondo e aplicando o indicador Operating Room Effectiveness (ORE). O segundo, analisa e propõe formas de nivelar a produção (Heijunka) de cirurgias de diferentes demandas competindo pelo mesmo centro cirúrgico, em um contexto de capacidade inferior à demanda. O terceiro estudo desenvolve o conceito de Planejamento, Programação e Controle do Fluxo de Pacientes (PPCFP), com vistas ao planejamento integrado de consultas, cirurgias, pré-operatórios e aquisição de materiais. A aplicação dos modelos conceituais propostos revela potenciais vantagens, ainda a serem estudadas em amplitude e longitude como alternativa para outras organizações do setor. Como resultados locais, além do aporte de conceitos de Engenharia de Produção aplicada ao contexto de saúde, foram identificados: ganho operacional médio de 12% de eficiência nas salas de cirurgia; redução em 40% do tempo médio de espera para cirurgias eletivas; redução média de filas para consultas em 50%; melhor planejamento e controle de eficiência e produção; e economia de cerca de R$ 5.000.000,00 resultante dos três casos. / Brazilian hospitals typically work with a depression between capacity and demand. The public and private subsystems are unable to coordinate situations of shortage and excess capacity identified in their respective structures, concomitantly. Costs become a focal element in both cases, aiming to quality and safety or to increase capacity, focusing on key areas of hospital service: surgical services, admission, emergency and diagnostic. In this context, Lean Healthcare becomes an attractive philosophy for organizational change of hospital processes aiming at increasing its efficiency. This study discusses the application of Lean Healthcare concepts in surgical services, based on evidence collected from three studies integrally in a large University Hospital, part of the Brazilian public health subsystem. The first study focuses on the operating room efficiency analysis, proposing and applying the indicator Operating Room Effectiveness (ORE). The second study analyzes and proposes alternatives to level the production of surgeries (Heijunka) of different brands, competing for the same operating room, at a low capacity context. The third study develops the concept of Planning, Programming and Control of Patient Flow (PPCPF), to establish integrated planning consultations, surgeries, preoperative and acquisition of materials. The application of the proposed conceptual models reveals potential advantages, yet to be studied in amplitude and longitude as an alternative to other industry organizations. As local gains, in addition to the approximation of Industrial Engineering concepts to the health context, it have been identified: 12% increase in the surgical center’s average efficiency; 40% reduction in the average waiting time for elective surgery; 50% reduction in the number of queued consultations; better planning and control efficiency and production; and savings of about R$ 5,000,000.00 resulting from the three cases.

This thesis holds how to reach a new target group through market mix. The purpose of the thesis is to study how the organization can reach a new target group which is new potential employees in the care of the elderly by working on the market mix. The theory that was used are offensive quality development by which continuous improvements can be achieved. Theory about communication was used and the importance of rhetorical skills while presenting the information to the target group. When it comes to transformation theory the digitized change, employees are often determined that it is important to start marketing themselves digitally and get the equipment needed. A major role played also the theory about marketing mix which was a major part of this study. Examination methods used were written interviews and the letter method. The written interviews was done by contacting the municipalities in Sweden to know how they do the marketing to the potential employees. On the other hand the letter method was done by contacting the studied organizations employees to know their ideas about how to encounter the new employees. The results of this study was that the organization’s employee mentioned that marketing should be done by digital channels because the time we are living in requires it. Lastly, the conclusions was that market mix can be a great strategy to reach the new target group and to always improve the marketing by doing a plan and then also realize the plan by doing the events and campaigns. / Examensarbetet handlar om att nå en ny målgrupp genom marknadsmix. Syftet med examensarbetet är att studera hur organisationen kan attrahera en ny grupp av medarbetare genom att arbeta med marknadsmixen. Teorin som användes är offensiv kvalitetsutveckling genom vilken kontinuerliga förbättringar kan uppnås. Därefter användes teori om kommunikation och betydelsen av retoriska färdigheter samtidigt som informationen presenterades för målgruppen. Teorin om förändring tar upp den digitala förändringen som avgörande då det är viktigt att börja marknadsföra sig digitalt och få nödvändig utrustning. Teorin om marknadsmix var en viktig del av denna studie. De använda undersökningsmetoderna var skriftliga intervjuer och brevmetoden. De skriftliga intervjuerna gjordes genom att kontakta kommunerna i Sverige för att veta hur de marknads för sig mot de potentiella medarbetarna. Brevmetoden gjordes genom att kontakta den studerade organisationen för att samla in deras idéer om hur man skulle möta de nya medarbetarna. Resultaten av denna studie var att organisationens anställda nämnde att marknadsföring bör ske genom digitala kanaler på grund av att den tid vi lever i kräver det. Slutligen var slutsatserna att marknadsmixen kan vara en bra strategi för att nå den nya målgruppen och att alltid förbättra marknadsföringen genom att göra en plan och sedan genomföra planen genom att göra kampanjerna.

<p>Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka möjligheterna för utökad kundnytta och kvalitetssäkra implementeringsprocessen av elektroniskt informationsutbyte (EDI). Detta uppnås med kvalitetsutveckling som grund, vilket omfattar processorientering.</p><p>Rapporten inleds med en beskrivning av arbetets syfte och vilka problem som står till grund. Vidare introduceras företaget som uppdragsgivare och relevant teori tas upp, detta för att bilda en referensram inför de metoder som använts för att förbättra processen. Slutligen så presenteras resultaten och en diskussion hålls kring detta, med vidare rekommendationer för fortsatt utveckling.</p><p>EDI processen har visualiserats dels med hjälp av akademiska litteraturer och dels från empiriskt material. Visualiseringen av processen har bildat en översikt av dess brister och problemområden (bland annat tidsfördelningen utmed processen och grunden till låg kvalitetsstandard), vilket har gett möjligheter till effektiva lösningsförslag för vidareutveckling. De främsta verktygen som har använts för visualiseringen är processkartläggning och värdeflödesanalys (VSM). I Rapporten presenteras dessutom ett avsnitt om ledningsstruktur för att underlätta processorientering och en allmän beskrivelse om själva EDI tekniken med avsikt att sprida kunskap.</p><p>Examensarbetet bidrar med processkartor för EDI processen, lösningsförslag för identifierade problemområden och rekommendationer för fortsatt utveckling.</p> / <p>The aim of this master’s thesis is to examine the possibilities of increased customer value and to ensure quality for the implementation process of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This will be achieved with quality development as a foundation, which consists of process orientation.</p><p>The report will initially describe the purpose of the master’s thesis and what problems that are the reason behind it. Following is a short description of the company who has requested the job and necessary theories are presented, in order to build a foundation for the upcoming methods that have been used. Finally there will be a presentation of the results and a discussion will be held around the subject, with further recommendations for continued development.</p><p>The EDI process has been visualized partly with the help of academic literature and partly trough empirical data. The visualization has established an overview of the process with its flaws and weaknesses (inter alia the distribution of time throughout the process and reasons for low quality), which enables suggestions for effective solutions. The foremost tools that has been used for this purpose is the process mapping and the Value Stream Mapping (VSM). The report also presents a segment about management structure in order to facilitate the process orientation and a general description about the EDI technology in order to distribute knowledge.</p><p>The master’s thesis contributes with maps for the EDI process, suggested solutions for identified problems and recommendations for continued development.</p>

The purpose of this study was to provide a case example of one SME (small to medium-size enterprises) documented practices compared to the Baldrige Program’s Criteria for Performance Excellence (Criteria). This study evaluated the degree to which the case example organization practiced the philosophies and principles of the Criteria without direct knowledge of the Criteria. The researcher conducted evaluations by examining the case example organization’s strategic plan against the Criteria. Results of this study’s demonstrated that the Baldrige Program would not be a change in direction for the case example organization but a systematic approach to enhance the methods already deployed by the case example organization. Evaluations identified items on both documents that could be relatable to items contained on the opposing document. This study also identified the actual number of requirement items contained within the Criteria, in order to provide a better understanding of the current Criteria’s level of complexity.

Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka möjligheterna för utökad kundnytta och kvalitetssäkra implementeringsprocessen av elektroniskt informationsutbyte (EDI). Detta uppnås med kvalitetsutveckling som grund, vilket omfattar processorientering. Rapporten inleds med en beskrivning av arbetets syfte och vilka problem som står till grund. Vidare introduceras företaget som uppdragsgivare och relevant teori tas upp, detta för att bilda en referensram inför de metoder som använts för att förbättra processen. Slutligen så presenteras resultaten och en diskussion hålls kring detta, med vidare rekommendationer för fortsatt utveckling. EDI processen har visualiserats dels med hjälp av akademiska litteraturer och dels från empiriskt material. Visualiseringen av processen har bildat en översikt av dess brister och problemområden (bland annat tidsfördelningen utmed processen och grunden till låg kvalitetsstandard), vilket har gett möjligheter till effektiva lösningsförslag för vidareutveckling. De främsta verktygen som har använts för visualiseringen är processkartläggning och värdeflödesanalys (VSM). I Rapporten presenteras dessutom ett avsnitt om ledningsstruktur för att underlätta processorientering och en allmän beskrivelse om själva EDI tekniken med avsikt att sprida kunskap. Examensarbetet bidrar med processkartor för EDI processen, lösningsförslag för identifierade problemområden och rekommendationer för fortsatt utveckling. / The aim of this master’s thesis is to examine the possibilities of increased customer value and to ensure quality for the implementation process of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This will be achieved with quality development as a foundation, which consists of process orientation. The report will initially describe the purpose of the master’s thesis and what problems that are the reason behind it. Following is a short description of the company who has requested the job and necessary theories are presented, in order to build a foundation for the upcoming methods that have been used. Finally there will be a presentation of the results and a discussion will be held around the subject, with further recommendations for continued development. The EDI process has been visualized partly with the help of academic literature and partly trough empirical data. The visualization has established an overview of the process with its flaws and weaknesses (inter alia the distribution of time throughout the process and reasons for low quality), which enables suggestions for effective solutions. The foremost tools that has been used for this purpose is the process mapping and the Value Stream Mapping (VSM). The report also presents a segment about management structure in order to facilitate the process orientation and a general description about the EDI technology in order to distribute knowledge. The master’s thesis contributes with maps for the EDI process, suggested solutions for identified problems and recommendations for continued development.

The purpose of the thesis work is to map, explain, propose and follow up on solutions to quality problems in a small growing IT company in an attempt to reduce or completely eliminate costs of poor quality. The report includes theory of change management, process and quality management, process maturity, agile methods, characteristic features for IT companies, DMAIC project tool and challenges for growing companies. It is a case study that is based predominantly on qualitative primary data. Data has been collected using a customer survey, as well as observations and interviews with employees and management. The result shows that the organization is struggling with quality problems. The problems look slightly different depending on which department is being reviewed. In the development department, which works with large projects over a long period of time, the main problem is lack of complete customer requirement specifications. At the Operations Department the main problem is that they are unable to test according to needs. Cunclusions to be drawn is that there are quality deficiencies related to testing and requirements specification within the IT company. Part of the reasons behind the problems is the lack of structure and follow-up. Three action plans have been drawn up to address the problems. A follow-up plan has also been created, which includes both follow-up of statistical data and feedback from employees and customers. / Syftet med examensarbetet är att kartlägga, förklara, föreslå och följa upp lösningar på kvalitetsproblem inom ett litet växande It-företag, i ett försök att få kvalitetsbristkostnader att minska eller helt försvinna. I rapporten innefattas teori om förändringsledning, process- och kvalitetsledning, processmognad, agila arbetssätt, karaktäristiska drag för It-företag, projektverktyget DMAIC samt utmaningar för växande företag. Rapporten är en fallstudie som till övervägande del består av kvalitativa primära data. Data samlas in med hjälp av en kundenkät, samt observationer och intervjuer med medarbetare och ledning. Resultatet visar att organisationen brottas med kvalitetsproblem, som innebär att värdefull tid läggs på att arbeta med saker som inte hade behövts om de gjort rätt från början. Problemen ser något annorlunda ut beroende på vilken avdelning som granskas. På utvecklingsavdelningen, som arbetar med stora projekt över lång tid är det framför allt bristande kravspecifikationer från kunderna som är bekymret. På driftsavdelningen är den främsta problematiken att de inte hinner med att testa så som de hade önskat. Slutsatser som kan dras är att det inom det studerade It-företaget finns kvalitetsbristkostnader relaterade till testning och kravspecificering. En del av orsakerna som ligger bakom problemen är bristen på struktur och uppföljning. Tre handlingsplaner har upprättats för att komma till rätta med problemen. En uppföljningsplan är också skapad, som innefattar både uppföljning av statistisk och återkoppling från medarbetare och kunder.

Lean production determine the appropriate way to better workplace organization based on the elimination of various types of wasting, which only increase costs without adding customer value. It isn't important only implementation of lean production methods, but especially maintenance of lean principles and creating an atmosphere of continuous improvement. Lean production is the philosophy, which must be accepted by all em-ployees inside every company. It is the way to successful business in the 21st century. This thesis deals with the application of lean production in the selected company. The practical part describes the selected company, its history and manufacturing program. The next part is focused on description of the production center and its production layout. The result of this thesis is creating the product layout plan depending on the material flow and additional proposals for improvement.

TQM has been identified as an approach that can be adopted to improve quality in business as well as in education. The main aim of this approach is to involve everybody in decision-making of the organization, in this case a school, with the purpose of achieving highest commitment from staff and customer satisfaction. TQM can be a way which can bring about changes in the education system. It is a philosophy with continuous improvement which can provide a set of practicable tools and techniques to meet the present and the future desires of any educational system. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the influence of TQM on school improvement in secondary schools in the Uthungulu District, Kwazulu-Natal. The questionnaires were handed to schools in the Uthungulu District which is made up of 5 circuits, namely, Umhlathuze Circuit, Umfolozi Circuit, Umlalazi Circuit, Mthonjaneni Circuit and Inkandla Circuit. The research concentrated mainly on School Management Teams (SMTs) and Post Level 1 educators (PL1 educators) from senior secondary schools (high schools). On the whole, respondents in the study area have shown a positive attitude towards understanding the significance of Total Quality Management principles in schools. The findings seem to suggest that everyone has a responsibility of encouraging implementation of TQM in schools. It is important to develop quality management systems, because without them, it is impossible to implement. The quality improvement teams should be empowered to manage themselves and provide programmes that will enable them to be more effective. The proposed model of the study provides information about basic elements and factors which need to be taken into cognisance during the TQM and implementation process. The model identifies the main principles of TQM with continuous improvement at the centre of them all. The main aim of implementing TQM in school should be continuous improvement. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)