A methodology for developing a self-assessment tool to measure quality performance in organizations

This paper proposes a development methodology that uses the assessment criteria of the national quality award as the basis for creating a self-assessment tool to measure quality performance in organizations. The Singapore Quality Award (SQA) assessment criteria were used as the framework for developing the self-assessment tool. The SQA award criteria were translated into a multi-item questionnaire. The self-assessment tool is used to assess quality performance in various functions of the organization. The scores obtained using the assessment tool was tested against those of the recent SQA applicants. Results showed significant correlation between the assessment score bands and the actual score bands that they received on their SQA application. As of the end of 1998, about 200 business organizations in Singapore had used the self-assessment tool. Self-assessment tools using different national quality award criteria could also be developed based on the proposed development methodology described in this paper.