Reports a survey which was carried out in 1990 to ascertain the level of training and research needs in the European business community. The results show that, although TQM initiatives are under way in many organizations, more collaborative research and development into TQM need to be undertaken.

Reports on a survey, carried out in 1990, to ascertain the level of training and research needs in the European business community. Attempts to define what exactly TQM means to an organization. Indicates that European organizations do not invest adequate sums of money in TQM education and...

Explains the reasons why failure cost analysis should be carried out for a banking organization. Details a case study of a Dutch bank and the method used to carry out a failure cost analysis: defining, measuring and reducing the different kinds of failure costs. Provides, for each of these three...

Based on a recent European Committee‐sponsored survey on quality management self‐assessment. Outlines research methodology and main findings. Details reasons for self‐assessment in companies and methods of self‐assessment, and discusses whether or not self‐assessment is worthwhile....

Quality management activities in five large Australian organisations have been monitored over a decade and present the basis for an insight into the factors which impact on the sustainability and direction of quality management over the longer term. Using a longitudinal research approach, the...

Based on two quality management self‐assessment survey projects conducted in Europe and Australia, the authors compare practices in these parts of the world. The main questions addressed are: why do organisations use self‐assessment?, how do they implement self‐assessment?, and what are...