Quality: think Differently

World Quality Week 2025

November brings us to World Quality Week, and this year’s theme, “Quality: think differently”, invites us to reimagine how we approach strategy, resilience and quality to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.  Thinking differently requires a mindset shift.  Innovation is certainly part of the equation, especially with the rise of AI, but it’s not the whole story.  The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) has identified three key elements to consider.

1) Alignment

Quality doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it must be integrated into an organization’s business system.  In fact, many of the elements of a Quality Management System (QMS) are also elements of a strong Business System.  The first 3 clauses of ISO9001 – Context of the organization, Leadership, and Planning – highlight this alignment.  For organizations that haven’t already recognized the overlap, now is the time to embrace these interactions to improve both quality and business outcomes.

2) Performance

Understanding how processes are performing and knowing when to act enables organizations to pursue excellence. Identifying and mitigating risks helps remove barriers and promotes agility. Measuring outcomes provides insight into progress toward strategic goals. When teams use this data effectively and respond proactively to risks, they lay the foundation for sustained performance improvement.

3) People

Innovation and technology are great and allow us to improve and grow in exciting ways.  However, people remain the core of every organization.  Engaging individuals is key.  Everyone wants to feel valued and part of the team.  Creating an inclusive and collaborative environment, building in learning and sharing of knowledge, and granting ownership of work and decisions, all contribute to a quality culture and improved outcomes.

Thinking differently about quality means cultivating a culture of engagement, innovation and excellence to strengthen organizations. 

• What will you do to embrace World Quality Week? 
• How will you think differently?

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