Accountability

["Ben Royal Jr" <broyal@acnet.net>]

This afternoon I met with my quality director and my quality manager.The =
topic was accountability in the work force, especially the workers who =
assemble our product.

The director said that until recently he believed that Deming was right =
in that attention should focus on the process. But, in light of a recent =
quality downturn division wide, he has come to believe that we are not =
holding people accountable for the defects they make. In addition, they =
believe we are not holding the inspectors accountable for missing the =
defects. How, they asked, could get make these people accountable?

I brought up the recent discussion about accountability being possible =
only when the structure is consistent with work and authority; that =
organizations split the authority to fix the problems from the  =
responsibility for making the product. Such splits do not allow for =
accountability.

But I did not get the point across, primarily because I am still on =
shakey ground with this concept.=20

I would appreciate your comments on this matter of organizing for =
accountability. Are there perhaps articles and books I could turn to? Do =
I need to go back further to the concept of accountability itself?

This incident concerns me. First, for the people who are going to be =
held accountable. Secondly, for the apparent large hole in my knoweldge. =
And finally, I did not acquit myself well for my company's sake.=20

Thank you.

Ben Royal
broyal@acnet.net
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