Switched-On Quality

I liked the author's premise. The focus is on how to sell Quality/Process Improvement to business leaders and peers without drowning them in the technical minutia that may turn them off, thus losing the energy of a good implementation. The author then takes the approach of how to market Quality/Process Improvement from the perspective of a marketing professional. The author then moves on to the difference between quality and value. This is a very good discussion on quality from a customer's perspective and what they perceive as quality and as value. The discussion then moves into the area of internal customers, and why the concept's time has passed. What you should focus on, per the author, is getting everyone to focus on the customer, moving the organizational focus external of the company from an generally internal one.The book was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it. I liked it, but my opinion is that it is for the quality profession who is interested in reading something well written that will challenge some base assumptions and makes you think about some foundational concepts. There are good nuggets here with a lot of narrative.

Switched-On Quality: How To Tap Into The Energy Needed For Fuller And Deeper Buy-In by John Guaspari is a straightforward guide to getting workers to put more effort into the task at hand, for a higher quality product, more satisfied customers, and greater bottom-line profitability. Individual chapters address in the importance of creating true value in a product, how to avoid "next big thing-ism", the difference between quality and value, and a great deal more. Switched-On Quality is confidently recommended as an energetic and insightful self-improvement guide for all business managers whether they are running small family companies or overseeing international corporate conglomerates.

People don't easily part with copious amounts of their discretionary energy to do great work that customers will gladly pay for. But under the right circumstances, they can, and will. The only question is, are those people working for you, or a competitor? Guaspari is a genius at getting the point across, and leaves you with practical advice that works!Bill Catletteco-author, Contented Cows