CHURCH AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF TOTAL QUALITY ...

1. Forming: The Exploration period for the team.
2. Storming: The age of rivals within team
3. Norming: The age of harmonious team relationship
4. Performing: The age of effective decision making.
The level of education, enlightenment, globalization of different human knowledge
exposures have helped in bringing team concept into proper usefulness. Teams do help a
lot in decision making by contributing valid suggestions. In the Church, teams have
different names from cells, committees, specially branded groups to house fellowships.
Oakland (1989, P236) stated five reasons why teamwork is needed in quality
management. The reasons are equally applicable for teamwork in the Church.
1. Problem solving beyond the capacity of one person
2. Diversity of knowledge, skill and experience for problem solving.
3. Morale boosting for team members
4. Cross functional boundaries can be dealt with easily.
5. Team recommendations get attended to faster than individuals.
The Church needs teamwork in many areas for it to function effectively. Areas such as
preaching needs teamwork; while the Pastor is preparing to preach, when he is actually
preaching and after preaching, he needs the supporting prayers of his members (some
times called prayer group or prayer warriors).
In Church physical structure building, teamwork is needed to finance, plan and actually
build. Members do support with physical labour. Evangelism is another area where
massive teamwork is required. Jesus said “Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to
every creature.” Mark 16:15. The instruction is not only to the Pastors but to all believers
in Him. Pastors cannot and should not handle this alone.
2.1:15 Lean Design is a system that works through teamwork by using brainstorming
techniques in each organization’s section and across function.
It garners various ideas and opinions which when properly harnessed bring about better
design ideas, better quality and better products. Idea generation through groups has been
discovered to be faster and cheaper which in turn reduces production cost.
2.1:16 Loss Function: Besterfield et al (1995, P351) referred to Dr. Taguchi, a
mechanical engineer who has won four Deming Awards as the originator of loss function
concept. Taguchi defines loss function as the loss imparted to society from the time a
product leaves the manufacturer. The societal losses include failure to meet customer
requirements, ideal performance and harmful side effects.
Contrary to Taguchi’s view which sees “loss function” from the angle of production, I
see it from the marketing point of view. Products should not be seen as acceptable simply
because they meet specification limits. Why?