Many good companies fail. Whether you own a business, are employed by one, or have invested in one it is very disconcerting because your career and financial security are at stake. Let's explore some common causes of failure and propose means of addressing them.

The job of a quality professional includes telling organizations they have "ugly babies" that need help. Ugly babies can be defined as dysfunctional quality management systems (QMS) or processes that create unproductive work for employees. Quality systems can be dysfunctional despite successful audits.

Your organization has its policies. Your organization has its procedures. They are two distinct phrases with two different meanings. But does your organization treat them that way?

Whether building an organization or society, manufacturing a coordinate measuring machine, or using that CMM to ensure only the highest-quality products leave your plant, being organized is key. It may seem obvious, but the idea of getting organized is actually inherent in the word organization when we use it to mean company or entity.