New Horizons: Quality for a Better Future

Case Study - February 2009

Abstract:Over the past 15 years the American Society for Quality (ASQ) has conducted studies to investigate the future directions of quality. Throughout this series of five ASQ studies, Mr. Watson has been the author of the scenarios that have been used to test the applicability of the findings about quality and determine its utility for improving future global performance. In this presentation, he consolidates the lessons of these five studies and summarizes the trends that have taken place in the driving forces observed by the quality professionals who participated in these studies as Delphi technique experts. Mr. Watson will describe the trajectories that may be observed across the studies, will discuss their direction and strength, and the likelihood that they will identify quality methods that must be emphasized in the coming years. This paper will describe Mr. Watson’s personal insights into the future state of quality based on this experience.

Keywords: Futures Study