What concept represents the efforts of all departments within an organisation to improve processes, products, and services?

The concept that embodies the collective efforts of all departments within an organization to enhance processes, products, and services is total quality management (TQM). TQM is a comprehensive approach that aims for long-term success by focusing on customer satisfaction. It involves the continuous evaluation of processes and the engagement of all employees at every level to foster an environment of quality improvement.

In TQM, the idea is not just to stop with product quality, but to extend the quality philosophy throughout the organization, making quality a shared responsibility. This approach integrates various functional areas, encouraging collaboration among departments to identify and address issues that may hinder quality. The emphasis is on systemic changes rather than isolated actions, leading to sustained improvements over time and better overall performance for the organization.

While continuous improvement, lean management, and strategic planning are also focused on enhancing organizational effectiveness, they encompass different facets. Continuous improvement is often a key element within TQM, but TQM focuses more broadly on organizational culture and quality philosophy. Lean management emphasizes maximizing value by eliminating waste, and strategic planning is primarily about setting long-term goals and determining the necessary steps to achieve them, rather than a holistic quality improvement approach across all departments.