Reflection on My Role in Quality circles

Reflection on My Role in Quality circles

During my previous Degree (Masters in Computer applications), There was an issue of  technically competent students not getting proper jobs due to lack of communication and other transferable skills.  This was an opportunity to influence the department to bring a change in the way, placement preparation was done. To bring practical transferable skills in students, I introduced the concept of Quality circles, where student teams analyse an issue and suggest changes to the management and work alongside of the management in implementing the plans.

I proposed this concept to the Department head and convinced them by quoting my own previous success in previous projects and other similar cases, as it was a new approach it took about year to get approved.

Now I had the next challenge to get my peers on board, coincidentally on the same week we had a series of competition organised by the Association of MCA. I got first Prizes in, Paper presentation contest and software development contest and also a prize in Quiz contest. These achievements all though not directly related to Quality circles, had a great indirect impact to Influence my peers. Then I formed the first Quality circle focusing on the issue of developing soft skills among students. My enthusiasm was reflected in our team and also motivated two other teams from my class to take part in the project.

As a part of this process we formed a team of 6 members and identified the various issues that are to be address and chose the most vital issue by ranking. Then we used the cause and Effect diagram to identify the various sub-factors involved in this issue related to Staff, Student, system and society by brain storming within the group. To ensure further accuracy, we collected the views of other by means informal interviews and a questionnaire. Based on the data collected we made the Pareto chart which showed the 20% cause which a lead to the 80% effect. With all these well analysed information we made our implementation to tackle the issue in a well-focused manner. Few implementations include  formation Special interest groups to share knowledge , introduction of student led seminar, Regular guest lectures, Proposal of Annual student conference, Annual Team development works shops etc.

As these projects created a significant impact in our department I was by invited the Quality assurance officer to introduce the project other departments, following this I made a presentation to one more department and five other Quality circle project were initiated later it was spread across different department with 13 Projects across the institution and I was coordinating all the 13. In the following year 53 out of 60 students were placed in good companies and I was offered a consultant role in the college.
This was well appreciated by the department and the systems continued even after I left the organisation and the case study of the project received second prize in a National level conference.

I had a very good practical learning throughout the process as trying something new involved a great risk but having a clear plan and proper implementation made it successful.

 Continuation in University of Leicester, UK.

With the above experience I shared this concept with Careers advisers, Pro Vice Chancellors for Research, Head School of Management and International Strategic Director and piloted a few projects based on their suggestion and rolled out the plan for Global partnership with few Universities in India and now it is to be initiated at School of Management.In Future I am planing to suggest this to be a Part of in Leicester Award Sheme as student would gain practical skill whist getting in involved organisation development leading to a mutual benefit

Watch this space for more updates about the development Quality Circle Projects in Leicester and about the projects impletmened durign this summer.