Assigned Readings:
Chapter 11: Project Risk Knowledge Management
Chapter 12: Cultural Shaping of Risk
Initial Postings: Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.
Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:
Background: MedTech Diagnostics, a U.S.-based manufacturer of blood analyzers for hospitals and labs, is facing growing concerns about product quality and customer satisfaction. Recent internal audits and warranty claims reveal an increase in defective units, rework costs, and negative client feedback. These issues have highlighted a major flaw: the absence of a company-wide quality philosophy. Although MedTech complies with basic industry regulations, its departments operate in silos, there’s no standardized method for addressing defects, and customer feedback rarely reaches those responsible for process improvements. In response, MedTechs CEO has called for the adoption of Total Quality Management (TQM) to promote a culture of continuous improvement, customer focus, and organizational collaboration. As part of the rollout, the company has hired a Director of Quality Initiatives to lead the transformation and educate employees and leadership on quality fundamentals. You are part of the project team supporting this initiative. Your task is to engage in a dialogue that explores the principles of TQM and its implementation through this real-world scenario.
Discussion Questions:
- How should MedTech define “quality” in a way that reflects both the expectations of its customers and the goals of its internal teams? In your answer, consider how quality may differ depending on the stakeholder (e.g., patients, lab technicians, engineers, or executives), and how TQM can unify these perspectives into one shared definition.
- What aspects of W. Edwards Demings philosophy are most relevant to MedTechs situation, and how can leadership use them to shift the companys culture? Discuss principles such as leadership commitment, systems thinking, and reducing variation. How might Demings 14 Points serve as a roadmap for change?
- What are the most important first steps MedTech should take in implementing Total Quality Management, and what potential challenges should they prepare for? Reflect on cross-functional collaboration, training, process mapping, and customer feedback loops. What resistance might arise, and how can the organization overcome it?
[Your post must be substantive and demonstrate insight gained from the course material. Postings must be in the student’s own words – do not provide quotes!]
[Your initial post should be at least 450+ words and in APA format (including Times New Roman with font size 12 and double spaced). Post the actual body of your paper in the discussion thread then attach a Word version of the paper for APA review]
Assigned Reading (s):
Chapter 11: Project Risk Knowledge Management
Chapter 12: Cultural Shaping of Risk
Quality management system standards
Welcome back, quality … from a project management perspective
Total quality management
Attending to Culture
Overview:
Chapter eleven of the textbook discusses risk knowledge management and the importance of the collection, documentation, and retainment of knowledge to advert risk. Explicit knowledge is knowledge that can be documented by observation. Tacit knowledge, however, is knowledge that lives in the mind of the experienced worker and can be lost when the individual leaves the company if not properly documented. Tacit knowledge can be harvested using a variety of techniques, such as storytelling, workshops, job shadowing, and cross training. Organizational culture and dynamics play a role in workers willingness to share their expertise and their motivation to cross train others. Organizations can promote knowledge sharing through networking events, mentorships, and training courses. Organizations that offer employee recognition programs, maintain a positive working environment conducive to learning, and promote from within are often more likely to obtain employee cooperation with knowledge sharing.
Just as organizational culture impacts knowledge sharing, it also impacts perception of risk. As outlined in chapter twelve, the norms, values, risk tolerance, and sense of urgency towards risk directly impact the risk perception of employees. What may be viewed as risky to one organization may not be viewed as risky to another company. Situational factors surrounding the organization also play a role. Overt organizations are those that are often in the public eye, while covert organizations operate in the background and are not as well known. While many project managers work on a contract basis, they must not assume that one organization perceives and interprets risks in the same manner as another. For this reason, it is critical for project managers to conduct an organizational scan to identify the characteristics of the organization as well as the organizations risk appetite when accepting new work contracts.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this unit of instruction, the student should be able to:
- Explain what a learning management system is and how it might be related to risk control during a project.
- Explain the process of risk knowledge management within an organization.
- Explain what impact an organization culture have on the process of risk assessment and control.
Supplementary Readings:
Demings Theory for Quality Improvement
Project management knowledge management
The A-B-C of risk culture
Establishing cultural influences on risk management
Book reference:
Edwards, P. J., Serra, P. V., & Edwards, M. (2024). Managing project risks (2nd ed.). Wiley Global Research (STMS).
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