accenture Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 According to P. F. Drucker, the management philosophy known as Total Quality Management (TQM), which is designed to be adopted consistently throughout an organization and to improve customer service by using sampling theory to reduce the variability of a product's quality, can work successfully in conjunction with two older management systems. As Drucker notes, TQM's scientific approach is consistent with the statistical sampling techniques of the "rationalist" school of scientific management, and the organizational structure associated with TQM is consistent with the social and psychological emphases of the "human relations" school of management. However, TQM cannot simply be grafted onto these systems or onto certain other non-TQM management systems. Although, as Drucker contends, TQM shares with such systems the ultimate objective of increasing profitability, TQM requires fundamentally different strategies. While the other management systems referred to use upper management decision-making and employee specialization to maximize shareholder profits over the short term, TQM envisions the interests of employees, shareholders, and customers as convergent. For example, lower prices not only benefit consumers but also enhance an organization's competitive edge and ensure its continuance, thus benefiting employees and owners. TQM's emphasis on shared interests is reflected in the decentralized decision-making, integrated production activity, and lateral structure of organizations that achieve the benefits of TQM. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second paragraph to the first paragraph? (A) It presents contrasting explanations for a phenomenon presented in the first paragraph. (B) It discusses an exception to a general principle outlined in the first paragraph. © It provides information that qualifies a claim presented in the first paragraph. (D) It presents an example that strengthens a claim presented in the first paragraph. (E) It presents an alternative approach to solving a problem discussed in the first paragraph. Please explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guyserbun007 Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 IMO A. First para explains the similarity of TQM to other approaches. Second para explains the fundamental difference between TQM and the other approaches. B -> The difference is so fundamental that it's not just an exception to the general rule C -> Wrong direction D -> Wrong direction E -> Not about solving a particular problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accenture Posted June 27, 2010 Author Share Posted June 27, 2010 @ Guysertbun007, appreciate your contributions; I would post the OA as well as the Official explanations after some appreciable number of other inputs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohansladdha Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 IMO A. First para explains the similarity of TQM to other approaches. Second para explains the fundamental difference between TQM and the other approaches. B -> The difference is so fundamental that it's not just an exception to the general rule C -> Wrong direction D -> Wrong direction E -> Not about solving a particular problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohansladdha Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 @Accenture... Pls post reply ASAP. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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