Unravelling 'Umwelts': How Our Perceptions Shape Quality Culture in the Business Landscape.
Quality within companies is a dynamic interplay between the context of the business and the culture of its environment. Understanding the unique umwelts, or perceptive worlds, that individuals and organisations build is pivotal to fostering a positive quality culture.
Defining 'Umwelts':
German biologist Jakob von Uexküll and polymath Thomas A Sebeok coined the term 'umwelts' to describe self-centred worlds shaped by our perceptive capabilities. Just as different species experience the world uniquely, organisations craft their umwelts based on products, services, and the people within.
Auditors' Perspective:
Auditors keenly feel the differences in umwelts as they navigate organisations adhering to similar standards. These differences underline the necessity of on-site audits to grasp the 'feel' of a business. Humans excel at spotting authenticity and incongruence, a skill honed through evolutionary mechanisms.
The Importance of 'Umwelts':
'Umwelts' are crucial as they define actions, behaviours, beliefs, and values. Quality professionals play a pivotal role in shaping umwelts through communication and fostering desired behaviours. Being aware of one's umwelt, both professionally and personally, is essential for effective collaboration and understanding.
Personal Responsibility in Quality:
Stephen Covey's wisdom—"Seek first to understand, then be understood"—resonates in the quality profession. Personal responsibility for quality involves understanding the umwelts of individuals and departments. Collaboration emerges as the future for businesses and quality alike.
The Visual and the Painful:
Leveraging the visual nature of humans, quality should embrace visual communication, using colours and flowcharts to articulate unique requirements. Pain, a potent motivator, varies among individuals; understanding this diversity is crucial when inspiring change for improvement and risk mitigation.
Lessons from History:
Drawing from history, the case of Ignaz Semmelweis illustrates the danger of being right when society clings to falsehoods. Embracing change and improvement requires not only being right but also navigating the umwelts of individuals and organisations.
As quality professionals navigate the intricate landscapes of umwelts, embracing diversity and fostering a culture of understanding becomes paramount. In a world shaped by perception, the journey towards quality excellence is as much about the nuances of human umwelts as it is about standards and regulations.
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