Standards in action
International Journal of Quality and Standards - Editorial
ISSN 1753-9439
Edition 3
It is probably easy to forget that quality and standards shape and develop the strength of relationships whatever their context. At the heart of these relationships are internal and external customers as well as a range of other stakeholder groups. This explains and justifies the diverse and interesting variety of submissions for this journal. Quality and standards are interdisciplinary – this also helps to make this journal unique. The other key feature is the attempt to use it at the heart of a pedagogy designed to disseminate journal contributions in a palatable and interesting form within higher education classrooms. As each edition of the journal goes live, complementary educational resources are put online, usually from contributing authors. The aim of these is that they will be used with students in order to encourage the use of academic writing from journals within teaching situations. The hope is that this will allow current and topical research contributions to be delivered within the higher education classroom. As with almost everything that we do which is new and experiential, this clearly within itself has the potential for further research.
There are some fascinating contributions to the third edition of this journal which fall into two broad categories. The first looks closely at notions of quality with an emphasis upon measurement. The second category of articles focuses on the education-related context.
- From the University of Tunis, Walid Gani, Hassen Taleb and Mohamed Limam, in looking at the application of specific tools within quality control, use a case study to consider the use of statistical process control using support vector machines.
- Frank Rudisill (University of Carolina Upstate) and Lewis Litteral (University of Richmond) look at capability ratios by comparing and interpreting short-term and overall indices. The paper addresses indices that indicate the capability of processes based only upon variability and location.
- Manuel F. Suárez-Barraza and Juan Ramis-Pujol from Ramon Llull University in Barcelona look at process standardisation and sustainable continuous improvement through the application of ISO 9000 to Logroño City Council in Spain. Their three main research questions that attempt to link standardisation to continuous improvement have clear potential for generalizability.
- Raluca Bunduchi (Aberdeen University), Ian Graham (University of Edinburgh) and Robin Williams (University of Edinburgh) look at grid standardisation as the context for the evolution of IT standards in academic and commercial communities. Their study evolves from one of a series of seven case studies exploring social networks within which e-business standards have been negotiated.
- Michael Butler from the University of Aston frames the perennial question about how lecturers keep learning about their teaching performance by providing a personal case study on reflective imagination. What is fascinating is that he sees the notion of personal reflection as part of a quality control process.
- Finally, Paul Greenbank, Claire Penketh, Mark Schofield & Tony Turjansky from Edge Hill University submit an article The Undergraduate Dissertation: ‘most likely you go your way and I’ll go mine’. It looks at the significance of dissertations within final year academic programmes from a quality perspective.
The International Journal of Quality and Standards (IJQS) aims to contribute and enhance teaching and learning in higher education within the area of standards and quality. It is an evolving initiative dependent upon contributions from across the higher education sector. Submissions are encouraged and will be put through a rigorous peer review process from which there will be significant formative feedback. For further information about submissions please contact Sheila Roberts on sheila@mb-a.co.uk.
David Needham
Nottingham Trent University
Kim Edmondson
BSI British Standards
Managing Editors