Describes some obstacles to the acceptance of concepts and practices related to quality in developing countries. Explores possible paradigm faults as reasons for the negative reactions often found, and concludes that culture alone is not the reason quality concepts are not more readily transplanted. Discusses the desirability of short-, middle-,…

Examined how academics have sought to make sense of the "quality revolution" that has been dominant in UK higher education in the last decade. Uncovered various types of behavioral responses by faculty to the requirements of quality assurance and monitoring processes. (EV)

Describes the University of the West Indies, focusing on the St. Augustine (Trinidad) campus and the library's involvement with maintaining, preserving, and disseminating postgraduate student theses. Explains quality control efforts and considers implications for the types of scholarship performed by academic librarians. (LRW)

This paper reviews the literature on consumer involvement in dental quality assessment, argues for inclusion of this information in quality assessment measures, outlines a conceptual model for measuring dental consumer quality assessment, and presents data relating to the development and validation of an instrument based on the conceptual model.…

Describes a progression of tests that were developed for assessing online database accuracy. Results of the tests are discussed and compared; examples of search queries on DIALOG are given; and the possibility of standardizing such tests are considered. (Contains 11 references.) (LRW)

Argues that a holistic approach to defining quality is helpful to technical communicators, who often must ensure quality without knowing what is meant by quality in a given instance. Describes a holistic model of quality that includes four emphases: internal, external, subjective, and objective. Notes that the definition of quality differs…

Total quality management will not work well in government agencies because of stress on products, not services; on well-defined consumer groups; on inputs/processes, not results; and on preoccupation with quality. An effective revised version emphasizes client feedback, performance monitoring, continuous improvement, and worker participation. (SK)

Describes differences between total quality management and self-directed teams in terms of job design, decision making, flexibility, supervision, labor relations, quality, customers, and training. Offers suggestions for which method to choose when. (SK)

Describes Soft Know-How, a new training and electronic performance support system (EPSS) that helps employees in the design, training, and updating of their work methods for continuous quality improvement. A comparison between desktop publishing and Soft Know-How methods in editing a job assistance document is discussed. (LRW)

Seven challenges in quality assurance for services for people with mental retardation include defining quality, identifying the customer, making choices real, realizing that good intentions are not enough, not applying innovations too hastily or on too large a scale, assuring quality of leadership and staff, and rediscovering common sense. (DB)

This article describes Wyoming's development and implementation of a multimethod approach to assessing quality of care for people with mental retardation in rural areas. The approach incorporates fiscal accountability, parental satisfaction, consumer satisfaction, national accreditation standards, and broad measures of personal and system change.…

Examines some problems of meanings and values that can occur regarding such widely used management terms as "power,""teamwork," and "quality" from both a "moral law" and "role-theory" viewpoint. Advocates a critical-ethical alternative to narrowly economic notions of educational management.…

Discussion of the quality of databases and database producers' responsibilities highlights a survey on current practices related to quality assurance that was completed by National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS) members. A checklist developed by the Southern California Online Users' Group (SCOUG) to help evaluate…

This paper reacts to previous symposium papers (EC 604 155-161) concerning regulations and quality assurance in Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR). Contributions of the Home and Community Based Services program model, which is seen as a partial solution to overregulation, are highlighted. (DB)

Discussion of the use of Total Quality Management (TQM) assessment tools in educational settings highlights and gives examples of fishbone diagrams, or cause and effect charts; Pareto diagrams; control charts; histograms and check sheets; scatter diagrams; and flowcharts. Variation and quality are discussed in terms of continuous process…