Kaizen and the Art of University Administration. AIR 1992 Annual Forum Paper.

This paper examines how the concepts of strategic planning, assessment, and Total Quality Management fit together and relate to one another in the field of higher education. Central to the explanation of how these topics are related is the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, a driving force behind the quality improvement movement in that country. The paper gives special attention to the need to change institutional cultures in order to improve achievement of institutional goals, a central tenet of Kaizen. The concepts of Kaizen are discussed within the context of improving higher education administration, particularly the management of student learning, the focus of student outcomes assessment. A basic hypothesis of the paper is that the historical pattern in American higher education has reflected the western, innovation approach while a more gradual, Kaizen approach is better suited for the current economic and social environment. A comparison is made of the innovation approach to solving problems and the Kaizen approach to change. Contains 12 references. (GLR)