Unlock Business Success With the Baldrige Principle - Essay Sample

Introduction

The objective of any organization is to improve its processes leading to enhanced productivity. Various business models have been brought up to revamp production and increasing efficiency. One of those models is the Baldrige principle. The Baldrige principal objective is to improve the quality of production of goods and services no matter the size of the company. It is centered towards a management framework that interconnects all the activities of an organization. In the implementation of the Baldrige, principles self-assessment is pivotal as it helps in pinpointing the health status of the organization in regards to its performance. The company will then look at primary areas that are paramount for its success. To achieve this, they will look at several areas within the organization. Firstly, if the company leadership is providing the direction required for its success. They will also look at how well the company is utilizing its human resources and if the customer's needs are being met. Finally, after gathering all the data the company can now look at an area which needs to be improved.

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Core Values of the Baldrige Principle

Visionary Leadership

The Baldrige principle is guided by eleven pillars which are its core values. Firstly, we have visionary leadership. Visionary leadership entails the senior management of the management having a blueprint of what they want the company to achieve in the short and long-term. These objectives are communicated to the employees and it is embedded in the organization culture. Such leaders promote innovation and ensure adequate resources is allocated for such projects. A good example is Apple Inc. which had a visionary leader in Steve Job. Whenever Apple Inc. was introducing any new product to the market he was the one steering it (Lusensky, 2014). He encouraged innovation and that's why the company could come up with upgrades of products annually. He foresaw that if the company did not diversify its products the company will cease to remain relevant. Thus the organization diversified from making computers to phones and also streaming services. Consequently, the culture of innovation is instilled and the quality of products is enhanced and there is continuous improvement.

Customer Driven Excellence

We also have customer-driven excellence. How well a product performs depends on the experience the customers gets when consuming the product (Ford, Evans & Masterson, 2014). It will determine if he will continue using the product or not. If he enjoys, it brings the aspect of customer loyalty. If a customer is not satisfied he might influence other people to have a negative effect on the product. An organization should strive to comprehend the customer needs and put up measures to meet them.

Personal and Organizational Learning

This element shows that an organization is always learning and coming up with better ways of improving efficiency and customer's satisfaction. One characteristic of an organization that values learning is that it puts a lot of resources into innovation. Innovation ensures a company stays ahead of its competitors and increased quality of goods (Bernard, Osmonbekov & McKee, 2011). Also, a company that values learning will ensure its employees go for seminars and training to get know the latest trends in the market. Whenever a new employee comes to the organization he is taught about the objectives of the company and what is expected of him. For instance,

Huawei is committed to being a learning organization. Firstly, because the company is always striving to improve the performance of its gadgets by coming up with a better version. Due to the recent economic wars between USA and China, it was barred from using android. But the company has just announced it is coming up with its operating system that is bound to give android a run for its money. That means all the years the company had put in learning will now pay off.

Corporate Responsibility

For companies to ensure they maximize their shareholder's wealth it is vital they take into consideration how crucial is corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR goes beyond a righteous code between right and incorrect (Nahlinder & Eriksson, 2019). It strives to reconcile what businesses should do as per the law versus upholding a competitive edge over other companies. In the society we live in right now reputation is the cornerstone of any firm in operation. Companies cannot risk breaking moral standards for the benefit of profits for a short while when they do the right thing and have a loyal customer for the foreseeable future. The reputation of a company can have a positive or adverse effect on the profitability of an institution.

Agility

Agility is the ability of a company to face adversity, controversies and be able to pick up and start rebuilding itself one brick at a time. A company can face uncertainties due to the volatile nature of the economy but still come back strong. Initially, Apple Inc. was on the brink of bankruptcy but Steve Jobs managed to steer it well to be an industry leader in its market.

Focus on the Future

It is primary for an organization to focus on the future as the consumers' needs are dynamic. What people prefer today is not what they will the next day. Thus it is significant to anticipate want the customers would want and put up measures of achieving them. The future can also offer threats such as competitors hence its vital for a company to be on top of its game. A good example is the Nike sports Apparel Company. If the company does not re-invent itself it can be overtaken by companies such as Puma and Adidas.

Valuing Employees and Partners

Employees are the drivers of an organization. For them to function optimally they have to be well remunerated. A company must have ways of appreciating them. A disgruntled employee is not productive. The working environment in an organization must be conducive for employees to make calculated risk that can benefit the company. They should be treated with respect and be allowed to be creative.

Managing for Information

For any company to excel it must take innovation seriously. It is through innovation that a company can manage to satisfy the ever-changing needs of the consumers (Lee & Ooi, 2014). A good example is Microsoft and Apple. These two companies are industry leaders in their market. There profits margins are always on an upward trajectory. These companies release new products to the market almost annually with regular updates. Before consumers get bored with a product they have already introduced a superior version which awes the consumer.

Management by Facts

Any decision in an organization should have data to back it up. This ensures any decision made is informed. A company can put up a system which can tell the management how the organization is performing. Such a system helps in gauging how the activities in the organization are doing. If any department has redundant workers or there is duplication of work it is only data that can help us to remedy the mess. IF there is any wastage it is facts that can help us know where the wastage is coming from and how to stop it.

Focusing on Results and Creating Value

When a company focuses on results it means it is achieving its objectives. Improved results means the company is satisfying the customer needs because they are buying the products. This translates to more profit for the organization. Whenever any system is implemented one will know if tits achieving its purpose. A good example is an appraisal system is deemed to be working if the results are positive. IT further means the shareholders will get better returns for their investment.

Conclusion

In any organization, there are issues which hinder the company from achieving its objectives. Some of the issues are lack of direction from the management and Poor communication. Such factor hinders the efficiency on how work is done in an organization. The Baldrige principle can be used to mitigate these shortfalls. All these elements when they are employed simultaneously the quality of production is enhanced. For the train to move all the parts must play their parts. All the stakeholders from the management, employees, and shareholders should play their part. These elements will thus improve the quality of production thus enhancing customer satisfaction.

Reference

Bernard, E., Osmonbekov, T., & McKee, D. (2011). Customer Learning Orientation in Public Sector Organizations. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 23(2), 158-180. Doi: 10.1080/10495142.2011.572684

Ford, M., Evans, J., & Masterson, S. (2014). An Information Processing Perspective of Process Management: Evidence from Baldrige Award Recipients. Quality Management Journal, 21(1), 25-41. Doi: 10.1080/10686967.2014.11918374

Lee, V., & Ooi, K. (2014). Applying the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria: an approach to strengthening organizational memory and process innovation. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 26(11-12), 1373-1386. Doi: 10.1080/14783363.2014.934519

Nahlinder, J., & Eriksson, A. (2019). Outcome, process, and support: analyzing aspects of innovation in public sector organizations. Public Money & Management, 39(6), 443-449. Doi: 10.1080/09540962.2018.1559617

Rusenski, M. (2014). Did You Bite the Magic Apple? Jung Journal, 8(1), 57-70. Doi: 10.1080/19342039.2014.841445