Search

This paper sets out to analyse the concept of the multitudes of quality cultures of Higher Education Institutions. The paper describes proposals for a model of a multi-paradigm analysis of cultures at universities in Poland and other countries. The study is partly based on the result of the project of NCN o. 2014/13/B/HS4/01581. The cognitive aim of the chapter is an attempt to describe organisational culture in contemporary higher education institutions in Poland based on a multi-paradigm model. The aim of the research is to create a multi-paradigmatic model of quality culture in higher education institutions in Poland.

Quality culture refers to an organisational culture that intends to enhance quality. It should be seen not as a set of procedures, but as a context in which efforts are aimed to achieve broadly understood improvement of the organization. Quality culture contains a cultural/psychological element and a structural/managerial part, which are described in this article. The purpose of the paper is to create a better understanding of quality culture in higher education, as well as to characterize the procedure of assessing quality culture and its elements. The article presents the concept of quality culture that grows out of the issues of organizational culture and quality management. It contains the definition of quality culture in higher education and the description of selected methods and instruments used for assessment of: organizational culture, quality management systems, and quality culture.

Teacher quality isdirectly related to the quality of education. It is important that teachercandidates be very well equipped at pre-service period as well as be followedduring in service period. The aim of teacher education is to equip studentteachers with knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding the teaching profession.In this context, it is important to construct a quality culture at educationfaculties to improve the quality. In this study, one dimension of amultidimensional study on internal quality standards was focused on. This studywas based on a mixed methods design. While quantitative data gatheringtechniques (document analysis) were used to determine the current qualitypolicies at education faculties, qualitative data gathering techniques(interview) were used to determine the suggestions regarding applications tofoster a quality culture of academic administrators (deans, vice deans anddepartment chairs). When results of thestudy about quality policies were analyzed, it was observed that while therewere quality policies of universities at their internet sites and as a writtendocument, such policies were not prevalent at faculty level. In addition to this, when the opinions ofacademic administrators regarding quality applications to foster the quality ofteacher education and a quality culture were analyzed, it was observed thatthere was a consensus regarding constructing quality policies at the facultylevel by a participating view, informing all participants about this study andthe necessity to apply the decisions. In this context, it is necessary toguarantee that required mechanisms, processes, and functions are existing toreach the desired quality and systems to be designed to help the institutionsto reach their target.

This study investigated total quality management practices and quality culture of Saudi Arabian contractors. Improving the quality can be achieved through implementation of total quality management although studies and researches work regarding this improvement is still lacking. A quantitative approach using the survey method was employed. With assistance from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, survey questionnaires were distributed to selected contractors in Saudi Arabia. The collected data were analysed using correlation, and multiple regression analyses. The key findings were the confirmation of significant relationships between all total quality management practices and quality culture and a positive relationship between quality management practices and quality culture. Furthermore, total quality management practices were found to be able to explain 68.1% of the variance in quality culture, while quality culture explained 12.5% of the variance in competitiveness. Quality culture was found to only partially mediate the relationship between total quality management practices and competitiveness.

Purpose Today’s organisations face the challenge of measuring the right things and then using those measurements as a starting point to work with improved quality. The failure to generate a shared value base is pointed out as one main cause for the inability to effectively apply quality management and lean within organisations; thus, it appears central to measure these values. However, the measuring of values and behaviours seems to be missing within both concepts. Therefore, there is a need for a tool that measures not only quality values but also behaviours that support or obstruct a quality culture. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a measuring tool which measures quality culture can be designed and structured. Design/methodology/approach A project with the aim to measure and develop quality culture started in 2015 by three Swedish universities/institutes and seven organisations. During several workshops, quality values and supportive and obstructive behaviours were developed and described. This resulted in a survey where employees of the participating organisations ranked performance and importance of the described behaviours. The results were presented and discussed in a fourth workshop. Findings A framework of behaviours and a measurement tool for a quality culture are presented in this paper. Originality/value The framework of behaviours, supporting or obstructing a quality culture, is original and may be very useful to diagnose and develop a quality culture.

The article concerns the need for teaching about the quality, as well as building pro-quality attitudes already at the school stage. The author presents quality issues, complications associated with its divergent understanding and its historical conditioning in Poland and also a brief explanation of the need of learning about quality since early childhood. TQM philosophy is described, as well as an overview of examples of building quality culture and education about quality in various countries of the world, together with their noticeable positive results. The current status of education on quality in Poland and quality issues affecting skills desired by employers is discussed.

BackgroundIn recent years, issues regarding the quality of healthcare have increased considerably in many low- and middle-income countries, including Taiwan. Evidence has shown that all processes and activities necessary for delivering healthcare service need to be controlled using a quality management system. Hospital managers should consider a variety of management strategies, and design a management method that ensures their staff provide better healthcare services to their patients. This study aims to explore the relationships between hospital quality culture, reward system, and employee perception of service quality.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional design and a questionnaire survey to collect research data. The research samples included employees in three medical centers in Taiwan. Three hundred copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 215 copies were returned.ResultsA hospital’s quality culture has a positive impact on its reward system. Quality culture has a positive impact on the employees’ perception of service quality, as does a reward system. The reward system is a mediator of the hospital’s quality culture and perception of service quality.ConclusionHospital managers could establish strong quality cultures and stimulate employees to provide better service to patients through a reward system.Trial registration:The clinical trial code is CS13119.

Muhammadiyah 3 Waru Junior Highschool is an Islamic school, which established since 1975. The learning activities at Muhammadiyah 3 Waru Junior Highschool are organized by the school curriculum in collaboration with the national curriculum, Muhammadiyah, Tahfidz, and International, EPP curriculum. The management system in the field of education is a process created to coordinate various educational resources, facilities and infrastructure needed with a view to achieving educational goals and objectives. This study aims to examine more further about the principal's managerial system in creating a quality culture in Muhammadiyah 3 Waru Junior Highschool by describing the problems faced by the principal such as: 1) the form of the principal's management concept, 2) the steps taken by the principal in realizing the concept of management in schools, 3) the form of the concept of quality schools that are built, 4) the efforts of the school in creating a quality culture, 5) the role of the principal in creating a quality culture. This research is a qualitative research field by using descriptive methods that aim to make sensing (description) systematically factual and accurate about the facts and characteristics of the population or a particular area. The approach used is a phenomenological approach that seeks to understand the meaning of events and their links to ordinary people in certain situations, in this research emphasizes the subjective aspects of the people studied. This study produced 5 answers to the problems that fit the focus of the study presented as follows: The concept of the principal management of the Muhammadiyah 3 Waru Junior Highschool uses an Islamic leadership management system, prioritizing the resources of its school residents.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the 16-year research and development journey of the Culture Excellence assessment tool, which is used widely to assess safety and quality culture in the food industry. It is the third article in a theme issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, discussing the importance of measuring food safety and quality culture. Design/methodology/approach An iterative process of in-depth interviews and mixed-method case studies led to the development of a conceptual model and an online assessment tool, which are used to gain insight into safety and quality culture. Findings The research process resulted in a conceptual model of four categories and 20 dimensions of safety and quality culture, alongside a practical online assessment tool to enable their measurement; these categories and dimensions are demonstrated using qualitative quotations. Originality/value This paper introduces qualitative data on safety and quality culture direct from the food industry with academic analysis to highlight new dimensions and issues. It will be of value to food safety and quality practitioners, trainers, auditors and other stakeholders involved in the food industry.