Social Responsibility and Quality

Organizations around the globe are becoming more conscious about Social Responsibility (SR). 

The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence in Leadership category focuses on how organizations fulfill their Social Responsibilities. The SR is about achieving the Triple Bottom Line - Economic (ISO 9000), Environmental (ISO 14000), and Social (ISO 26000) leading to Sustainable Development.  


Quality plays a critical role in achieving SR. Quality tools have helped organizations around the world to develop better products and services through compliance to ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 Standards. For SR, organizations can use 7 Quality Management Tools, 7 Quality Control Tools and SR Audits. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) has a reservoir of knowledge on quality tools and techniques. 


ASQ has been highlighting Quality for Life stories on quality professionals making a difference at work, in their personal lives, and through volunteer efforts. To learn about these stories, visit:
http://www4.asq.org/qualityforlife/volunteer-stories/. 


I have been personally involved at the Blind Foundation for India (BFI) since 1989 to serve over 15 million blinds in India which accounts for 1/3rd of the world's blind population in India
(www.blindfoundation.org). The BFI  mission is to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India. Read the Quality for Life story entitled "Out of Darkness into Light" at: http://www4.asq.org/qualityforlife/volunteer-stories/out-of-darkness-into-light-1.html. 


BFI projects address the health care issue and make blind individuals self sufficient through education and vocational training. Instead of these blind people becoming burden to their family and society, they can lead productive life. Greater effort is spent on prevention of blindness among youngsters through timely eye sight checkups in schools, dispensing necessary eye drops, Vitamin A, providing glasses, and administering Measles vaccination. After all "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure". 


With limited resources on this planet earth, it is time we all commit to SR at individual, family, organization, society, national, and global level. People's prosperity depends on how well we take care of the planet earth.


Are we here adding more value to the planet earth than taking out during our life time?


I welcome your your thoughts on Social Responsibility and Quality.