595.742.81 - Quality Management in Technical Organizations

Expanded Course Description

The course is composed of online classes and will give students the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts in Quality Management (QM). This course provides an overview of key QM topics and techniques, current challenges and future trends of QM. Subject areas and lecture content track current topics of interest. The course format encourages student participation that includes weekly graded online discussions, five homework assignments, a midterm project where students develop a strategic quality plan for a business, a final project where students analyze a case study and develop a quality improvement plan, and a final presentation where students present their key take aways from the course and how it will apply to their respective current and/or future careers.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into weekly modules. The Modules can be accessed by clicking Modules on the left menu. A module may have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments.  Students are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before working the grade discussion boards, assignments, and projects. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates and/or updates.

Course Topics

Please refer to the Course Schdule/Outline, which you can access by clicking on Modules on the left menu of our Canvas course site. You will then find it under Course Information.

Course Goals

By the end of this course, you will have the skills to be able to perform all the tasks listed under the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) below.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Explain the fundamental elements of quality management approaches, implementing continual improvement, and how quality management theory is implemented throughout an organization in strategy, leadership, and culture.
• Apply the tools and processes used to support quality management within an organization and throughout the supply chain to optimize quality while also achieving organizational efficiency.
• Compare Quality Management Systems as well as the key characteristics of quality management system standards and process improvement frameworks.
• Discuss different quality management principles in diverse disciplines such as software quality, agile innovation, additive manufacturing, and lessons learned.
• Apply professional writing and presentation skills concurrent with a master's level degree.

Textbooks

Not required.

Other Materials & Online Resources

Please refer to the Readings and Instructional Materials, which you can access by clicking on Modules on the left menu of our Canvas course site and then navigating to the respective module of interest.

Required Software

We require the standard set of Microsoft Office products or their equivalent (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). You also need the ability to read Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files, and generate PDF files for your submissions.

Student Coursework Requirements

This course is 14 weeks in length and includes individual, and collaborative online discussion activities in a weekly cycle of instruction. Please review this course syllabus and the course schedule/outline thoroughly to learn more about specific activities and requirements.

This is an online course which means students attend online and asynchronously throughout the week. Modules open Tuesdays at 0:00 o’clock Eastern Time and go through the following Mondays at 23:59 o’clock Eastern Time. We expect all students to make every effort to actively view the lectures, review any reading assignments, and work the online discussions, assignments and projects. This interactive class requires active participation.

The instructors also know that this is a program designed for working professionals and absences are to be expected. Please let your instructors know ahead of time if you are unable to participate in a particular module or need any extension for a deliverable. Generally, consistent student online attendance of/active engagement in this class is expected. Please talk to the instructors immediately if this will be difficult for you.

Course evaluation will be based on four key student requirements/activities (provided here with weighting for final grades):

• Active participation in weekly graded online discussions (13 x ~3%) -- 40%
• Assignments (5 x 6%) -- 30%
• Midterm Project Paper (1 x 15%) -- 15%
• Final Project Paper and Presentation (1 x 15%) -- 15%

Grading Policy

Deliverables are due according to the dates in the Calendar and activity items in the corresponding modules.  The rubrics that we use to grade each assignment are available to you prior to starting the assignment. We will make a best effort to post grades within approx. 10 business days after assignment due dates, but delays are possible due to work load of the instructors.

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar but do expect graduate school-level and professional writing (so, please spell-check and grammar-check before submission). Please refer to the rubrics for the assignments and projects for details.

Please also carefully review our policy for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in this class!

Final Grading will be calculated by totaling the scores from the four requirements areas and applying the weighting from the section above.  Posted Letter Grades will be applied following the scale provided here:

F = 0–62, D = 63–66, D+ = 67–69, C− = 70–72, C = 73–76, C+ = 77–79, B− = 80–82, B = 83–86, B+ = 87–89, A− = 90–92, A = 93–96, A+ = 97–100.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Course Evaluation

Preparation for and Active Participation in weekly graded online discussions (13 x ~3% = 40% of Final Grade Calculation)

This is an Online Course and active participation each week are expected. Please notify the instructors prior to the class if you cannot attend, e.g. due to work conflicts, travel, etc.

You are responsible for carefully reading all assigned materials and being prepared for actively participating in the graded online discussions.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on active initiation of and contributions to discussions in the graded online discussions.

Preparation and participation are evaluated by the following grading elements:

• Timeliness/Frequency
• Critical Thinking/Quality/relevance of Contributions

Details can be found in the corresponding Class Participation rubric.

Assignments (5 x 6% = 30% of Final Grade Calculation)

Assignments (5 total - worth 10% each) will be assigned throughout the semester and shall be individual efforts by each student. Most individual assignments can be completed within two to three pages.

All deliverables are due according to the dates in the Calendar and Module instructions.  Assignments will be considered late if they are received after that time.  Special circumstances (e.g., business travel, temporary lack of internet access, etc.) can be accommodated at the discretion of the instructors if the student informs us prior to the due date.  Assignments that are unjustifiably late will have the grade reduced for lateness. The maximum possible score for late delivery will be:

1 day: 97; 2 days: 93; 3 days: 89; 4 days: 86; 5 days: 82; 6 days: 79; 7 days: 70; more than 7 days: 0 

No exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors.

If you submit your assignments late and beyond the 1-week window, you will receive a grade of zero. If you experience difficulties that inhibit you to submit within this time frame, it is your responsibility to work with ep-student-success@jhu.edu to obtain their approval for an extension based on your personal circumstances. This out of the hands of the instructors.

Assignment papers are evaluated by the following grading elements:

• All parts and requirements of the assignment are comprehensively addressed.
• Writing quality and technical accuracy.  Foremost, papers are expected to exhibit a proper flow of presenting all the information so that the reader can easily follow and fully comprehend your reasoning and response in a meaningful and logical way.  Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate-level English and scholarship standards, i.e. all assignments will be graded on grammar and style as well as content.
• Clear rationale for all answers/statements/analyses is provided.
• Examples are included to illustrate rationale (If you do not have direct experience related to a particular question, then you are to provide analogies versus examples).
• Relevant outside references are included.

Details can be found in the corresponding Assignments rubric.

Midterm and Final Projects (2 x 15% = 30% of Final Grade Calculation)

Both projects (2 total - worth 15% each) are individual assignments and will be assigned in Modules 2 (Midterm) and 8 (Final), respectively. All deliverables are due according to the dates in the Calendar and Module instructions.  Special circumstances (e.g., business travel, temporary lack of internet access, etc.) can be accommodated at the discretion of the instructors if the student informs us prior to the due date.  Assignments that are unjustifiably late will have the grade reduced for lateness. The maximum possible score for late delivery will be:

1 day: 97; 2 days: 93; 3 days: 89; 4 days: 86; 5 days: 82; 6 days: 79; 7 days: 70; more than 7 days: 0

If you submit your assignments late and beyond the 1-week window, you will receive a grade of zero. If you experience difficulties that inhibit you to submit within this time frame, it is your responsibility to work with ep-student-success@jhu.edu to obtain their approval for an extension based on your personal circumstances. This out of the hands of the instructors.

No exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors.

Term papers are evaluated by the following grading elements:

• All parts and requirements of the assignment are comprehensively addressed.
• Writing quality and technical accuracy.  Foremost, papers are expected to exhibit a proper flow of presenting all the information so that the reader can easily follow and fully comprehend your reasoning and response in a meaningful and logical way.  Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate-level English and scholarship standards, i.e. all assignments will be graded on grammar and style as well as content.
• Clear rationale for all answers/statements/analyses is provided.
• Examples are included to illustrate rationale (If you do not have direct experience related to a particular question, then you are to provide analogies versus examples).
• Relevant outside references are included.

Details can be found in the corresponding rubrics.

Term papers and presentations (if any) must be developed in a manner that demonstrates your ability to present the materials and what you have learned throughout the course to the most senior management levels of an organization.

Course Policies

Grade Rebuttals. Our goal is for you to learn about these various topics in Quality Management. The grade is one indicator of our judgement on your learning. If, after submitting a written assignment you are not satisfied with the grade received (if "C" or worse), you have to option to speak with your instructors about the possibility of redoing the assignment and resubmitting it. Permission to resubmit an assignment is at the discretion of the instructors and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Note that this process is not intended to improve grades at "B" or higher.

Policy for Use of Generative AI Technology. In this course, you are allowed to use GenAI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, etc.) to support your work. To maintain academic integrity, however, you must specify any AI-generated material you use and properly cite it. For proper APA formatting of such citations, see How to cite ChatGPT. Citation is required when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, cut and paste, or quote from a GenAI tool or GenAI output products.

You are also responsible for fact-checking statements composed by AI tools.  The reason is that GenAI tools may produce individual sentences or even paragraphs that seem well written, but it is well known that there are the following concerns associated with GenAI tools and/or their products:

• can perpetuate social/societal biases (that can even affect engineering management topics)
• can hallucinate; that is, make stuff up
• often generates incomplete and disorganized results when assessed broadly
• limitations and flaws necessitate critical review, i.e., always question, check, or otherwise verify outputs

Simply producing products and deliverables for a grade is not the main reason for course discussions, assignments and project work. The assignments and project activities, and the active, iterative process of producing deliverables are meant to engage you critical thinking and constructing logical and compelling arguments. At least today and for the foreseeable future, success in your academic and career endeavors will continue to be enabled by your ability to engage in critical thinking, develop innovative ideas, discuss and evaluate alternatives, identify and discuss solutions to complex problems, and communicate via the written and spoken word, all enabled and enhanced by your engineering and management knowledge.

When using GenAI tools for assignments and other assessments in this course, therefore, please note the following:

• presenting the output of GenAI as one's own work is considered plagiarism
• use only as a support tool, not as the primary source of your deliverable. So, e.g., don’t use ChatGPT to write your discussion posts and/or discussion questions/responses
• the tools JHU uses to check for plagiarism and originality also detect AI-generated text
• use is permitted, and citation is not required, for basic applications such as seeking a better or different word, or for help rephrasing a sentence

Use of GenAI products in a way that violates this policy will trigger a grade reduction for the affected deliverable, resulting in a grade as low as zero (0). Violation of this policy could also initiate actions as defined in JHU's Academic Misconduct Policy.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course. 

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu. 

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.