Enhancing Sarawak's Quest for Quality

No less than 10 experts and practitioners in the field of Quality descended upon Kuching from the 11th to the 13th October 1999.

The occasion was Sarawak's First International Quality Congress-IQC'99. From the USA came DR. H J Harrington, Dr. Bob Reid, Dr. Calingo, Dr. Louis Schultz; Mr. Kolinka and Mr. Victor Cintron. Mexico was represented by Engr. J F Prado and from the Philippines came Drs. Jose and Miflora Gatchalian. A host of other speaker from the International Academy of Quality also took part in the three-day Congress. They all come to expound and share with 300 delegates on the best practices in the quality management.

The congress was organised specifically to share global approaches in successful quality management. It is also part of the state government's efforts to improve quality in all aspects of its services.

"I don't see any end to quality improvement but instead we need to optimise and use all the tools available to improve our efficiency and provide better services," says Datuk Abdul Aziz Hussain, the Deputy State Secretary for Human Resource.

In his opening address, the Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud said that "the pursuit of quality if the highest degree in various sectors in Sarawak in attainable through a more comprehensive co-operation between the private and public sectors.

Only through such co-operation could the state realise its ambition of attaining and sustaining a higher quality standard in all its endeavors by the year 2020."

So, what do the experts say about quality?

Dr. H James Harrington, Principal, Ernst & Young, in his keynote paper entitled "Organizational Change Management - To Set the Stage for Quality" said that "...in today's turbulent environment, where demands for change are continually accelerating, there will be losers, survivors and winners. Project like TQM, TIM and Business Process Improvement (process redesign and reengineering) general ideas on how to improve your organization. However, these improvements will not bring substantial value to your organization unless they can be implemented successfully. In order to implement these solutions, your organization must be able to manage change. The most critical issues of managing change is the ability to manage the people who must change, helping them to become more resilient and adaptable in the process."

Dr. Luis R. Calingo, a Professor of management, California State University - Fresno, USA presented a paper entitled "Assessing the Quality of Leadership."
In it he presents a framework for the assessment of the quality of leadership in a variety of organizations - business, health care, and government through the use of the Baldridge Award Criteria.
"The Award set four characteristics of organizational leadership that one would expect to find in an excellent enterprise. Firstly, the senior leaders set directions and create a customers orientation, clear and visible values, and high expectations addressed to all stakeholders. Secondly, senior leaders ensure the creation of strategies, systems methods for achieving excellence, stimulating innovation and building knowledge and capabilities. Thirdly, they must commit to the development of the entire workforce and encourage participation, learning innovation and creativity by all employees. And finally, through their ethical behaviour and personal roles and planning, communication, review of organizational performance and employee recognition, senior leaders serve as role models, reinforcing values and expectations and building leadership and initiatives throughout the organization."

Other speaker at the Congress are Mr. Victor Cintron, Principal Partner, BULLTEK Ltd, International Operations, USA who spoke on the "Environmental Systems Leadership: Its Role in Continuous Quality Improvement."

"Partnership for Quality and Profitability: A TQM strategy " was presented by Prof. Jose and Dr. Miflora Gatchalian of the University of the Philippines.

Mr. Edward P. Kolinka, President and CEO, Quality International Ltd. USA, spoke on the "Role of Computerization in the Improvement Process.". Best Quality Practices: Qualities of an Exceptional Leaders, "was presented by Dr. Louis Schultz, President & CEO, Process Management International (PMI) USA. Malaysia's perspectives on quality was represented by Dato' A. Aziz Mat, President, Institute of Quality Malaysia (IQM) who spoke on "The Quality Improvement Initiatives: Malaysia's Experience.
 

Source Rakan Sarawak, October 1999