A comparison of business improvement methodologies Dissertation

A comparison of business improvement methodologies - Dissertation Example 19 3.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21 3.1 Research Philosophy 21 3.2 Research Design 21 3.3 Sampling 22 3.3.1 Sample Size 22 INTRODUCTION The world of business has become extremely competitive and survival and success of firms largely depend upon their ability to improve. The impact of globalization has made the world of business more competitive forcing them to come up with new methods and approaches to improve. The businesses today are marred by high cost of materials and services and there is an urgent need to seek new methods to make financial performance better, enhance market share and improve customer satisfaction and the contribution by employees. Technological advancements have made the customers more knowledgeable and have added to the complexity of business environment. Customers have more choice and options at their disposal and the demand for quality is increasing day by day. Because of the challenges thrown by globalization, businesses need a more scientific method to understand and analyze any information about their performances; this includes an approach that would reliably link inputs with outputs. Webb (2006) stated that in order to improve the outcomes of a process, the process itself needs to be improved; this is where business improvement methodologies like Six Sigma, TQM and BPR step in. These business improvement methodologies show the managers the precise changes they need to make in order to obtain the desired outcomes. This research study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the business improvement methodologies and the common and unique traits of each of these methodologies. The study also tends to identify if these strategies are converging towards one universal approach. 1.1 The Evolution of Improvement Methodologies: A Brief History Implementation of scientific management in businesses began in the 1900s with Frederick Taylor’s revolutionary time and motion studies to make factories more competent and resourceful. This initiated a se ries of quality management processes until in 1940 the principles of Total Quality Management were established by W. Edwards Deming and Joseph M. Juran (Webb, 2006). Deming’s statistical methods and management principles were adopted by Japanese engineers for building processes and quality control as they re-built their country after the devastating World War II. The TQM processes were so efficient and effective that by 1970s, Japan had gained control of a large portion of the US auto market, consumer electronics and camera market. This caused the US companies to become serious about improving the quality of their products and led to the promulgation of structured methods to improve the quality of products by improving the processes involved in their production. After years of research and experimentation, came the Six Sigma improvement model which was adopted by Motorola in 1986. In 1988 Motorola won the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award and the Six Sigma improvement model was adopted by other big firms including IBM, GE, Allied Signal, Xerox and Texas Instruments. This study is concerned with looking deeply into these business impr

The Freedom of the Press Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Freedom of the Press - Research Paper Example Freedom of the press implies non-interference from the state or the various organs of the state. Media house and companies may seek their freedom through legal means, which may be stated in the constitution. Governments may define which materials should not be disclosed to the public, based on how it classifies information. Some government information may be secret or sensitive; governments protect such information from exposure to the public. Cornwell (2004) states that â€Å"the universal declaration of human rights provides for freedom and rights of expression and opinion to every person† This freedom extends to the rights to air one’s opinions without interference. It also includes the right to impart information and ideas through any form of media, be it print or broadcast. However, there is legislation accompanying this viewpoint; this legislation ensures that media freedom is put under scrutiny. Government legislation may prohibit foreign media and journalists fr om covering issues happening within the country. For example, in times of revolutions and wars, the press may not be allowed to cover the events taking place. Thus, the public may not be aware of instability and brutality in their countries. Limiting the press freedom affects the public negatively, as people remain in the dark, without any knowledge of some crucial events taking place in their country (Hume, 2005). This paper will discuss the benefits that can be gained when the public supports the freedom of the press. Reasons why the public should support the freedom of the press The public should join hand with the media in fighting for the freedom of the press, because of the various benefits gained when the press is free. Firstly, a free press holds the government accountable for its actions. In cases where the public may not be able to scrutinize the activities of government agencies, the media come in and do so (Hume, 2005). Some governments may not be willing to be transpare nt, government officials may indulge in corruption and misappropriation of public funds. In such a case, a press that has freedom ensures that the public becomes aware of the way funds are being utilized. An independent media may initiate demonstrations and mass action, where citizens get the opportunity to protest against corrupt government officials. When the media lead citizens in protesting, governments may be forced to dismiss corrupt officials (Bollinger, 1991). As Cornwell (2004) notes, press freedom should get public support because a media that hold the government accountable can help in upholding the rule of law. This will create more stability in a country and make it more attractive to investors. International politics, commerce, and trade activities mainly depend on the media.