In this article, we’ll uncover the key benefits of collaboration in quality and senior management teams.
The relationship between senior leadership and the quality team is vital in shaping an organisation’s future. Understanding the impact of customers and stakeholders, and integrating procedures, governance, and projects within the quality management system are essential for a thriving business.
What is Collaboration?
Collaboration is a process in which a group of individuals work together by sharing their skills and knowledge to achieve a common goal. It could be done to solve a problem, generate new ideas or create innovative products.
Collaboration within teams or coworkers can lead to the development of better ideas and solutions than what could be achieved individually. Collaboration may involve working with a single person or a large team, but its benefits are undeniable. By working with others, you can gain new perspectives and navigate challenging projects more effectively.
Now we’ve covered what collaboration is, it’s important to understand what is quality all about and the impact it can have on customers, the company and its strategy.
What is Quality?
Quality, sometimes referred to as Quality management, involves improving products, services, systems, and processes to ensure the entire organisation is effective and efficient for stakeholders.
A company’s strategy should include an understanding of the influence of customers and other interested parties.
Everything your business does, all procedures, activities, governance and projects should be working to ensure the organisation achieves its strategic goals and direction.
In addition, all of the procedures, activities, governance and projects should be within your company’s quality management system to ensure customer focus and efficient and effective implementation.
If the Leadership and quality teams are not working together and communicating effectively the connection becomes weak and the power of quality is diminished putting the sustainability of the company at risk.
5 Key Benefits of Collaboration in Quality and Senior Management
1 – The voice of the customer and alignment of the organisation
The quality team have tools and techniques to understand the voice of the customer and what is critical to quality for interested parties. Senior management needs to consider this when establishing the strategic direction of the organisation. The strategy should be embedded in the governance of the organisation and its quality management system. The quality team can help to give clarity to the customer’s voice and work with all departments to ensure strategy is converted into clear actions and prioritised appropriately.
2 – Improved communication
An active quality team are communicating, known and active with all departments within the company and is well placed to break down communication barriers and provide clarity of information and knowledge whilst raising awareness with management on concerns, lack of knowledge and reasons for resistance to change.
3 – Reduce running costs
The quality team are perfectly positioned to encourage teams to consider inefficient working practices and waste activities and assist teams, with tools, techniques and projects to promote and actively implement more efficient ways of working.
4 – Increase innovation
An empowered quality team actively engages with employees, builds trust and discusses risks and opportunities, and new innovative activities to transform old working practices, services and operations.
5 – Improve company culture
Company culture is a natural driving force developed from the perception of the company and the interpretation of its messages by employees. Through active listening, response and action, the quality team can have a positive influence on this culture. Without management support and commitment this will not make a lasting difference.
The strength of quality is in its engagement with all members of the organisation and maintaining those relationships to ensure improved communication, reduction in operational cost, increased innovation and a strong quality culture.
When senior leaders work with the quality team, your business will become stronger through collaboration and improved alignment of the organisation across all levels.
Summary
In summary, the collaboration between quality professionals and senior management can play a vital role in your company’s strategy and quality management system. Quality, encompassing efficient procedures and governance, directly impacts customers and the overall direction of the organization. A collaborative relationship between senior management and the quality team yields benefits such as aligning with customer needs, improving communication, reducing costs, fostering innovation, and enhancing company culture, ultimately strengthening the business and its alignment across all levels.
Are you ready to make a difference to your Quality and Leadership teams?
Has this article sparked your interest in developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours to transform your quality management processes and invigorate change? Whether you’re a quality manager trying to get your senior leadership team’s approval or a business leader looking to align your business processes, we have a number of training courses and apprenticeships to help you get there.
Start your CMI Leadership journey with us and take your business to the next level, choose from either a Level 3, Level 5 or Level 7 leadership apprenticeship or one of our bespoke CMI leadership courses, tailored to your business.
Quality Assurance / Governance Officers and Quality Engineers, we’ve got you covered too! With our Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship, you’ll develop the skills to effectively implement quality processes, and management systems and drive continuous improvement in your organisation.
Fill out the form below to find out more and a member of the team will be in touch.
