Title: TQM for a master's programme: a case study integrating Kano's model and quality function deployment

Authors: Laura Di Pietro; Roberta Guglielmetti; Maria Francesca Renzi

Addresses: Department of Business and Management, Roma Tre University, Via Silvio D'Amico 77, 00145, Roma, Italy. ' Department of Business and Management, Roma Tre University, Via Silvio D'Amico 77, 00145, Roma, Italy. ' Department of Business and Management, Roma Tre University, Via Silvio D'Amico 77, 00145, Roma, Italy

Abstract: This paper seeks to identify effective procedures for increasing student satisfaction and modernising the reputation of a master's programme by improving the quality of service. Hence, the main objective of this study is to identify innovative factors that could transform student views into systematic operational procedures. The QFD house of quality (HOQ) methodology, which was adopted and integrated with Kano's model, was used to identify student needs, determine the types of programme qualities that students found attractive, and translate these elements into the services provided by the programme. The study identifies concepts relevant to the continuous improvement of a master's programme.

Keywords: TQM; total quality management; Masters courses; Kano's model; quality function deployment; QFD; improvement methods; modelling; student satisfaction; student needs; quality of service; QoS; house of quality; HOQ; management education; business education; higher education; Masters degrees; university quality; Italy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOM.2012.049123

International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management, 2012 Vol.2 No.4, pp.378 - 408

Published online: 21 Aug 2014 *

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