However, we have cases, in particular in applying management system standards, where structural aspects, e.g. organization charts and formal process diagrams, have been harmfully emphasized in processes. Structures relate mainly to the continuity or survival of the organization. 2.4. System performance Overall business performance of organizations results from managerial decisions both in processes and structures. Performance of a system and its management may be assessed by using suitable measurement and evaluation methods for two main purposes:33 (a) Determination - What is the achieved level or value of the performance? (b) Verification Does the performance fulfill certain requirements? We have developed an advanced “3-in-1” methodology34 for organizations' selfassessments of the performance of specialized discipline management of an organization. This methodology has been applied e.g. for assessing quality management and information security management. It combines the corresponding standards35 and excellence performance models36 with the strategic pursuits of the organization.
3. GUIDING MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR MANAGEMENT OF SPECIALIZED DISCIPLINES ISO 9000 quality management (QM) standards37 deal with managerial methodology for organizational quality realization, i.e. for striving to fulfill needs and expectations of the stakeholders through the products (goods and services). Quality Management Principles38 (QMP’s) establish the basis for ISO 9000 standards. Also other special disciplines have developed guiding principles for the applications of those disciplines. An example is OECD’s principles for the security of information systems and networks.39 3.1. Guiding principles of the management standards Factually QM equals with good management, quality of management. Quality consists of all characteristics of a business system, products of the system, management system, etc. and other items in question. QM that is a main concept of the ISO 9000 standards has been a problematic concept during the whole lifetime of ISO 9000 standards. One reason for these problems is that the concept of QM consists of two nouns without any linking adverb. In particular, this causes confusion and difficulties in translation, and therefore also in understanding this concept. According to the standard vocabulary, QM means coordinated activities to direct and control an organization with regard to quality. Quality is an abstraction; 33
Juhani Anttila and Kari Jussila: “You get what you measure.” Or not? Challenges for fact-based quality management, International symposium on quality, Croatian Quality Managers Society, Osijek, Croatia, 2011. 34 Ibidem. 35 ISO TC 176 ISO 9000 family of standards (ISO 9000/9001/9004), ISO, Geneve, 2005-2009. 36 NIST, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria, NIST, Washington, 2010 and EFQM, The EFQM Excellence Model EFQM, Brussels, 2011. 37 ISO TC176 ISO 9000 family of standards (ISO 9000/9001/9004), ISO, Geneve, 2005-2009. 38 ISO/ TC 176: Quality management principles (2000) http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_standards/quality_management/qmp.htm 39 OECD, Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networks - Towards a Culture of Security, OECD Publications, Paris, 2002.