OSCM 456 Master Syllabus

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OSCM 456: Quality Management Master Syllabus

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Textbook

Managing for Quality and Performance Excellence, 2020, 11th Edition, By Evans, J.R. and Lindsay, W.M., Cengage Learning.  Available at the bookstore or as an e-book.  
ISBN-13: 9780357442036  
Note: The text is required reading.  

Class Sessions

This semester’s class is designated asynchronous so recorded lectures, content, assignments, and communications will be via Canvas.    

University Catalog Description

Provides an understanding of the multifaceted nature of quality management by emphasizing topics such as quality philosophies, total quality management, design quality, process quality, and managing quality in information systems development. Discusses ISO 9000 and Capability Maturity Model. Uses software, case studies.

Writing Intensive (WI) Status

To achieve the WI objectives, we will have three written graded assignments.  Each student will individually complete these 3 assignments through a draft/feedback/revision process.  Our goal is to ensure each student receives help in improving writing skills to maximize your success in the business world.   

Course Description

Although Quality Management has a specific meaning within many different business sectors, ultimately understanding Quality Management concepts, processes, and tools help organizations achieve their goals with high degrees of customer satisfaction. 

In this course we will learn about the evolution of quality management, total quality management, establishing a quality management program, statistical quality control, and go over some of the important quality management frameworks such as ISO, CMMI, and Six Sigma. The course is designed to provide you with practical knowledge and skills to apply concepts learned in the class in the business environment. As such, material will be covered in different format including class lectures, industry guest speakers, exercises, Excel based problems, and a Group Project.  

Whether you will be a part of the Quality Management group in your organization or not, this course will provide you with valuable concepts that you can use to make positive changes within your organization, that will help achieve and maintain excellence in performance.  

Course Objectives

From this course, the student shall be able to understand both the theoretical and analytical foundations of quality management, and how to implement them in manufacturing, services, and government arenas. 

The benchmark standards for grades are described by the following criteria: 

A: The student demonstrates an excellent understanding of the topic by showing a thorough, correct and accurate understanding of the concepts, theory and/or research, as well as the ability to evaluation critically the topic. This understanding is shown in written and/or verbal communications that are clear, precise, grammatically correct and well-formed in logic and presentation. The student shows a mastery of the subject under discussion, and can integrate concepts within this course and from other areas of application. While not necessarily original, the work is of superior quality. The A grade is reserved for students who demonstrate outstanding achievement in all aspects of the assignment or activity. 

B: The student demonstrates a fundamental understanding of the topic. While the key and essential concepts, theories and research are adequately covered, there may be other relevant aspects of the topic which are not treated adequately, either in written or verbal presentations or in class discussion. While written assignments are generally in good form, there may be periodic lapses in grammar or logic. In general, the work is of good quality. This is the minimal level of performance expected of graduate students. 

C: The student shows an adequate but not fully correct understanding of the topic. Some key points are addressed, but other points are left out or are not covered at all. There are specific problems, weaknesses and/or gaps in accuracy, correctness and/or logic in the presentation of the assignment. In general, the work is marginally acceptable at the graduate level. 

F: Unacceptable and unsatisfactory for any of several reasons, including non-completion of the assignment, non-attendance or non-participation, submitted work of unacceptable quality, and any other failure to meet minimum standards of course preparation, completion, or participation. 

Notes:  

  1. In addition to the textbook, the OSCM 456 course Blackboard consists of separate categories containing this syllabus, readings, lecture notes, course announcements, and assignments.  
  2. Business executives will be invited guest speakers scheduled during the semester to present Quality Management experience and business wisdom.  Their discussions are included in exam content.  Your thoughtful participation is encouraged.  
  3. Attendance will be taken each class and participation is expected.  
  4. Chapter reading assignments will be discussed in class and posted on Canvas. 

Quizzes and Exams

  1. Two (2) mandatory exams will be given.  The exams will be comprehensive of the topics they cover.  Altogether, the two exams count for 37.5% of the final course grade.   
  2. Exams are based upon the class lectures, textbook material, and discussion of the material covered.    
  3. All examinations and homework are to be by individual effort as they will be graded.  NO collaboration of any kind is permitted.  See the honor code paragraph below.  Any collaboration will be treated as an Honor Code violation.  
  4. All exams given in class are closed book.    
  5. Exams may be made up only under extreme emergencies AND at the sole discretion of the instructor.  A penalty for lateness may be assigned.  Missed exams will be assigned a score of zero.   
  6. Quizzes and assignments are expected to be completed in the Module and Week they are due.  Students who fail to notify the instructor with a valid reason for incomplete work when it is due will be graded accordingly. 

Semester Research Project

The class will be divided into teams, who will research a company’s Quality Management approach, systems, and measures. Each team will present their project and submit a report.  The project is 35% of your grade with the paper @ 200 points, presentation @ 110 points, and other submissions @ 40 points.  If there are no outliers, each team member will receive the same grade.  Outliers are students who do not share the workload with measurable differences in team participation, quality, and performance.  Outliers will be graded separately. 

Connectivity and Computer Skills

  1. Every George Mason student is provided with an e-mail account where you will receive all course announcements.  It is the student’s responsibility to activate and routinely check their George Mason e-mail account.  
     
  2. For technical help with your personal computing systems, call the George Mason support center at (703) 993-8870 or send e-mail to support@gmu.edu.  However, it is the student’s responsibility to work with their ISP or personal consultant to determine and resolve connectivity and other problems.  
  3. The student must be familiar with the basics of the recent versions of MS Office products, especially MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.  
  4. The course Canvas is an electronic medium to facilitate the transfer and dissemination of the course content.  

Course Grade

  1. The final letter grade is assigned 100% quantitatively and according to the weighted average of the numerical scores of all exams, project, and assignments.   
  2. Final course letter grade assignments:  
Percentage Grade
96 to 100 A+
93 to 96 A
90 to 92 A-
87 to 89 B+
83 to 86 B
80 to 82 B-
77 to 79 C+
73 to 76 C
70 to 72 C-
67 to 69 D+
63 to 66 D
60 to 62 D-
0 to 59 F

Writing Intensive Course Criteria

  1. Writing Intensive (WI) Status: To achieve the WI objectives, we will have three written graded assignments.  Each student will individually complete these 3 assignments through a draft/feedback/revision process.  Our goal is to ensure each student receives help in improving writing skills to maximize your success in the business world.  
  2. Writing-to-learn, Writing-to-communicate, and Writing process outcomes. Writing-intensive courses integrate the following learning outcomes into their course designs: 
    1. Writing-to-Learn: students will use informal or formal writing in ways that deepen their awareness of the field of study and its subject matter.   
    2. Writing-to-Communicate: students will compose one or more written genres specific to the field of study to communicate key ideas tailored to specific audiences and purposes; genres may be academic, public, or professional.  
    3. Writing-as-a-process: students will draft and revise written works based on feedback they receive from instructors and peers, using strategies appropriate to the genre, audience, and purpose.  
  3. These materials demonstrate that students are expected to write at least 3500 words across 2 or more assignments 
  4. These materials demonstrate that the writing assignments constitute a substantial portion of the final grade (30% or higher). 
  5. These materials demonstrate that students will receive feedback from a peer on at least one writing assignment 
  6. These materials demonstrate that students will have sufficient time to revise at least one writing assignment based on faculty AND peer feedback (at least one week between receiving feedback and submitting revisions). 
  7. These materials demonstrate that the course will dedicate significant time to exploring writing as a means of communicating Quality Management Concepts  (dedicated activities or class sessions that will help students learn how to successfully complete course assignments and write in the field). 
  8. WI Course learning outcomes can be viewed at WI Course Learning Outcomes – Writing Across the Curriculum 
  9. For more information see WI Course Criteria – Writing Across the Curriculum 

Topics (adjustments may occur)

Foundations of Quality Management 

Total Quality Management 

Quality Management Frameworks (Baldrige, ISO 9000) 

Managing Software Quality 

Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) 

Process Focus for Quality 

Statistical Methods in Quality Management 

Design for Quality 

Quality Management - Customer Focus  

Quality Measurement & Control 

Statistical Process Control 

Process Improvement and Six Sigma 

Measurement of Quality for Performance Excellence 

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