Kristina Zgodavova

Learning before doing: utilising a co‐operative role play for quality management in a virtual organisation

Learning by doing can be costly, the more so the more complex the systems involved – just think of products such as space shuttles and organisations such as big supplier networks. Entering all new situations requires some learning, and in some situations learning can take place in a non‐cost environment in the form of simulations and role plays. This paper presents a methodology developed at the University of Kosice for managing quality systems in virtual organisations. The paper shows the principles, assumptions, and the procedure of a case role play for organisations establishing a virtual organisation to benefit from a lucrative opportunity that has emerged on the market. The paper speaks of the benefits of role play as both forum and tool for learning, especially in networked organisations. It seems evident that similar benefits would be achieved without the role play.

Intelligent approaches for an organisation’s management system change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute learning, knowledge creation and knowledge transfer obtained through a web-based role-play simulation environment as an intelligent approach towards organisational change. Such change occurs in the organisation during its transition to a new version of the ISO 9001:2015. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a literature review and the experience of the authors and a team of international teaching and research staff, as well as on information obtained from satisfaction surveys. Findings – The actual version of the web-based Management System Role-Play Simulation (MS-RPS©) considers the changes in structure and terminology of the ISO management system standards, enables the creation of a predictive strategy regarding organisational culture, minimises the negative impact of the change and helps people adapt more quickly to it. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to the complexity of an actual system and the possible ve...

Contribution to the Research and Education of Innovation Engineering and New Product Development at the University

The paper is presenting theory and methods applied in research and education activities in the field of innovative engineering and new product development at the Alexander Dubcek University of Trencin. Its criteria function is: “Conception originality and perfection of mechatronic components details”. The functions of mechatronic products are developed on the base of a system quality paradigm, complexity theory, duality of research-education process, latest knowledge gained in the field of mechatronic products design and eManagement of mechatronic product quality by means of a new combined procedures called QKS based on QFD (Akao, 1990), Kansei Engineering (Nagamachi, 1995) and Stage-Gate model (Cooper, 1990). The paper is giving and example of dual solution of a new course concept: “Innovation Engineering and New Product Development” applying the Project Based Learning and Glossary Based Learning. Our outcomes are aiming at the specialists engaged in mechatronic products quality, but could be used also as a guideline for students and wide public during development of any products. The paper is based on outcomes gained in the research project MS SR VEGA 1-2120/05 “Research of Principles and Concepts of Future Organization e-Management Development” and KEGA 3-4121-06 “Web Portal of Tools, Methods and Case Studies of Quality Management”.

Integrated Management Systems web-based collaborative learning: (Interactive lesson presentation)

The purpose of the presentation is to provide the generalized knowledge about an innovative teaching approach to the design and development of the Integrated Management System (IMS) in web-based environments using Role Play Simulation (RPS).

Multilingual Virtual Quality Center Providing e-Learning Facilities for e-Health and Modern Healthcare Management Education and Training

Multilingual Virtual Quality Center Providing e-Learning Facilities for e-Health and Modern Healthcare Management Education and Training The complete methodology of design, functions and first feedback based on the pilot use of the multilingual Virtual Healthcare Quality Centre designed to educate healthcare managers, caregivers and researchers in understanding how to achieve quality, efficiency and economic effectiveness of services provided by modern healthcare organizations is presented for discussion and possible improvements. Currently Virtual Healthcare Quality Centre offers glossary centred e-learning courses for modern healthcare organization change management, human resource management, quality management, performance management, customer satisfaction and decision making, healthcare economics, e-Health and quality of life and well-being. Management and organizations e-manuals and e-consultation with frequently asked questions focused on use of obtained information and knowledge accumulated for the design and implementation of a new quality management system and a set of tools for follow-up improvement of quality, efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare organizations. Discussion will also be targeted at further development of specific areas as seen from the perspective of users in health care systems in EU countries and EU candidate countries that have not participated in the presented initial pilot projects.

Invigorating of the Quality Engineering and Management education by virtual educational laboratories

The purpose of the paper is to provide generalized knowledge about the education and training within the Quality Engineering and Management study programs with the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the environment of CRELABTE virtual laboratories, which enable simulation of specific situations from industrial practice. The infrastructure of CRELABTE consists of hardware (remote server) and software supporting laboratory tasks in the subjects of related study programs. The paper also describes a new floor shop manual data entry system KONIS® for the invigoration of the laboratory education. KONIS® software supports training in decision making regarding product quality through remote access to the information.

Educational web tool for Statistical Process Control

The global objective of the paper is to introduce a new Statistical Process Control (SPC) education technology using an interactive control chart simulator. The basis is the contemporary experience in teaching at universities and in training for the practice and from there resulting observation, that especially the regular students often lack practical knowledge about the production process while managers lack deeper insight into the SPC theory. A possibility to eliminate this deficiency is a practical activity where individuals attain knowledge and skills through personal or hands-on experiences. Function of the simulator is to enable the student to resolve typical situations encountered in the SPC. This paper presents learning objectives, the SPC simulator concept, its functions, and the manner of its use in education.

Modeling and simulating relocation of a production in SIMPRO-Q web based educational environment

The aim of this paper is to provide a possibility to gather new knowledge and skills through solving of the new production launch situations in continuously changing global environment as is e.g. relocation of the production from one country to another. Common target is modeling and simulation of related risks using educational web based environment of Quality Management Role Play Simulation SIMPRO-Q. In the paper is presented method for gathering of new abilities and skills in engineering education using SIMPRO-Q. Players make both quantitative and qualitative decisions as they manage a critical situation during relocation of production.

Training and development tool for the open innovation quality management system

The purpose of the paper is to contribute to learning, knowledge creation and knowledge transfer obtained through a web-based role-play simulation environment as a training and development tool for the new phenomena of Open Innovation (OI) concepts of organizations. This paper is based on the survey realized within the OI-NET project. Learning objectives for OI course were chosen by the expert team of the project. A new approach to education using OIMS-RPS has been tested on a sample of PhD students from different study fields at the University. The study is limited by the complexity of the actual Open Innovation environment, measurability of any real enhancement achieved and the possible verification of empirical results.

Culture of quality: insight into foreign organisations in Slovakia

This paper aims to present the results of comparative research on the culture of quality in the largest foreign and domestic organisations operating in the automotive industry in Slovakia. The empirical research examines quality strategy, quality vision, leadership, quality values, and customer involvement practices. The comparative research is based on in-depth personal interviews with professionals responsible for quality and innovation management in the organisations. The empirical research is combined with secondary resources (e.g. annual reports). The culture in Slovakia as described according to the Hofstede model has a ‘high power distance’ and is strongly ‘masculine’. Empirical research on the large foreign organisations operating in the automotive industry in Slovakia recognises that the culture of quality varies significantly according to the country of origin. Inherent differences exist within French, German, Korean, Mexican, Norwegian, and US companies. Proximity in culture can be found between France and the United States as well as Mexico and Germany. The main differences in the culture of quality are primarily in practices and less in vision, values and leadership approaches. Despite the variability within the group of foreign companies, as a group, the set shows a common culture that is fundamentally different from the culture of the sample of Slovak companies. The research focused only on the group of the largest organisations operating in the automotive industry in Slovakia, both foreign and domestic. The paper provides original findings on the culture of quality in foreign organisations operating in Slovakia. Previous studies have not examined what culture of quality arises when a foreign-owned company is faced with the culture of Slovak employees.