Our primary mission is to prepare our students to contribute positively to their organizations and communities. We educate future leaders to perform effectively and ethically in a global environment as professionals in business, public, and social enterprises. Our programs are strengthened by diversity among our students and faculty.

Our faculty and students actively engage in scholarship that is relevant to our academic programs and to the business community. We value all types of rigorous scholarship, with a primary focus on applied and pedagogical intellectual contributions.

We leverage partnerships between students, faculty and the community to continuously improve the educational experience and to enhance the integration of scholarship and public engagement to classroom learning. Our public engagement efforts are designed to enrich our communities.

Course Objectives

The idea behind this course is to provide a framework for organizing and managing a continuous improvement program.  By the time you leave this class, you should be able to:

• Describe key elements of effective quality control and improvement programs.

• Apply structured problem-solving methods and tools to improve quality.

• Identify current trends and benchmark organizations related to quality management.

Catalog Description           

3 credit hours.  Advanced operations management approaches to quality; process and productivity improvement in manufacturing, and service and government organizations; use of case studies, exercises, and/or term projects to show application of management and quantitative concepts.

Prerequisites:

Open only to students certified as majoring in business disciplines. PREREQ: BAD 305, MGT 305, senior standing, or consent of instructor.

Text (Optional)

Evans, J.R. & Lindsay, W.M. (2008). Managing for quality and performance excellent, 7th ed. Minneapolis: South-West. (older versions ok)

Course Policies

a) Grading Components and Determination 

Assignments.  Do The Penalty Policy, Floor Complaints and one other posted assignment.  Memo format.  Some choice permits selection of topics that interest you.  You’ll also get feedback on business writing style—a rare but valuable managerial skill.  Work in groups if you choose—up to 4 in a group.

Project.  Apply the quality improvement process to a problem of your choice.  Read the “Quality and Personal Values” section in the text for ideas.  Your goal: demonstrate that you can connect structured problem-solving methods to a real problem.  In a report, show how you addressed each of the problem-solving steps.  Work in groups of at least four.

Professionalism.  This portion of your grade is my assessment of your engagement in class.  It is termed 'professionalism' since it is meant to evaluate mannerisms that you should exhibit as an effective manager.  Since this is a senior-level class, you will be judged more critically in this category. 

Extra Credit.  Will be possible as term unfolds.  More on this later.

b) Attendance

Attendance will not be formally taken.  However, your attendance and participation will impact your professionalism mark.  Moreover, due to the nature of our class discussions, you WILL struggle if you miss a lot of class.

c) Student Rights and Responsibilities

The maintenance of academic standards and integrity includes the obligation not to cheat or plagiarize.  A student who uses a dishonest or deceitful means to obtain a grade is guilty of cheating; a student who submits another’s work as one’s own without adequate attribution is guilty of plagiarism.  Identical work will earn a grade of zero.

Students are fully responsible for learning the course content and material disseminated in the class.  Absences do not release you from this responsibility. 

Please see the NKU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities at www.nku.edu/~deanstudents. 

The College of Business has in addition its own Code of Student Conduct, created by student organizations. Please visit the College website at http://www.nku.edu/~cob/CodeConduct.htm.  For cheaters, I'll enforce this policy to the furthest extent possible.

d) Syllabus Changes and Current Information: Class Website

Dates and assignments documented in this syllabus are subject to change at my discretion, meaning that this paper version of the syllabus will become outdated as the term progresses.  While I’ll try to announce significant changes to our syllabus during class meetings, the electronic version of the syllabus posted on the class website will be constantly updated and provides a definitive reference.  Indeed, our class website is your best source for current course information.  Refer to it often…

e) Guiding Principles

• You are training to be effective managers.  Be responsible for your development.

• Manage deadlines and conflicts like the workplace.  Plan and notify ahead.  Avoid surprises.

• No grades given out over phone or email.  You'll have to see me.

• My role is to help you achieve your goals.