Total quality in management decision making

TQM (total quality management) is a process oriented philosophy aimed at the continuous improvement of the processes and management of an organization. Decision making is a key management function and process that is critical for the survival and success of the firm. Yet, TQM efforts have up to now largely ignored the quality of decisions made by management, focusing rather on the more traditional value-adding processes. However, this is also a process with inputs, outputs and customers. This paper examines the process of decision making from the quality viewpoint. The discipline of decision analysis provides the process and tools necessary for making quality decisions. Management should provide itself with training in this area as well as the tools necessary to reach a state of self-control-as they expect from their employees for all other processes. The encompassing term "decision management" is proposed to describe the total effort required to achieve good decisions as well as good outcomes. If management wishes to assure the survival and prosperity of the enterprise, it must strive for quality and excellence in decision management.>