Human Aspects in Process Improvement

Abstract

This paper intends to compare two major process improvement programs, Re-engineering and Total Quality Management (TQM), with the focus of human aspects. Reengineering is a result-focused and IT technology-centered approach for radical process change. Lack of employment involvement usually results in unexpected resistance to such process innovation. On the other hand, TQM focuses on continuous improvement with using all available human and capital resources. In addition to customer, TQM emphasizes both management and employee involvement for constant incremental improvement. The human-centered strategy emphasizes the value of people in process improvement. From the human aspect, these two programs are complementary. The emphasis of human value also rebuilds the paradigm of process evolvement from short-term innovation to a long-term improvement.