Applied qualimetry: its origins, errors and misconceptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader, who may have little or no knowledge of qualimetry, with first, an outline of the history and development of this relatively new scientific discipline, which deals with the methodology of and problems in the integral quantitative assessment of the quality of objects of any nature: things and processes, products of labour and products of nature, whether material or ideal, animate or inanimate, simple or complex, natural or man‐made, etc.; and second, the most common errors that occur in the design and application of quality assessment techniques, which result in the depreciation of findings obtained by these techniques, and methods for eliminating such errors. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used to obtain the results described in the paper is based on a deductive‐axiomatic approach and, occasionally, on expert judgements. Findings – The findings presented in the paper can raise the research community's awareness of the great opportunities that the qualimetry toolbox offers them in addressing their problems; at the same time, they can help them to avoid many pitfalls. Practical implications – The information found in the paper broadens the range of business problems and problem‐solving procedures that can make use of qualimetric techniques and approaches. Originality/value – The vast majority of the readers of this journal will find information contained in this paper both novel and potentially useful.