Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Kurzsichtigkeit / Español: Miopía / Português: Miopia / Français: Myopie / Italiano: Miopia

Nearsightedness in the context of quality management metaphorically refers to a short-term focus or limited perspective that prioritises immediate results over long-term goals and sustainable practices. It often highlights an organisation's inability to foresee potential consequences, risks, or opportunities due to a narrow focus.

Description

In quality management, nearsightedness represents a common pitfall where companies emphasise short-term efficiency, cost-cutting, or rapid output at the expense of long-term quality and innovation. This approach can lead to compromised product quality, customer dissatisfaction, and missed opportunities for improvement.

For example, an organisation might skip critical quality assurance steps to meet tight deadlines, resulting in defective products. Alternatively, excessive cost-cutting might undermine investments in staff training, equipment upgrades, or R&D, ultimately affecting the organisation's competitive edge.

This concept is closely tied to the principles of strategic quality management, which emphasises balancing short-term objectives with long-term vision. Overcoming nearsightedness requires embedding a culture of continuous improvement, prioritising customer satisfaction, and aligning quality goals with business strategy.

Application Areas

• Product Development: Neglecting comprehensive testing to rush products to market.
• Supply Chain Management: Choosing lower-cost suppliers without assessing their long-term reliability or quality.
• Workforce Training: Focusing on immediate productivity while neglecting skill development.
• Customer Service: Addressing surface-level complaints without investigating root causes of dissatisfaction.
• Process Improvement: Implementing quick fixes instead of sustainable, long-term solutions.

Well-Known Examples

• Automobile Recalls: Companies that rushed production to meet market demands often face recalls due to overlooked quality issues.
• Software Bugs: Applications launched without thorough testing often result in patches and customer backlash.
• Infrastructure Failures: Projects built cheaply or without considering long-term maintenance needs can lead to costly repairs or reputational damage.

Risks and Challenges

• Compromised Quality: Products or services may fail to meet customer expectations, harming brand reputation.
• Increased Costs: Short-term savings might lead to higher long-term expenses due to rework, recalls, or lost customers.
• Stifled Innovation: A lack of investment in research and development can hinder competitiveness.
• Employee Turnover: Neglecting staff well-being or growth can result in high attrition rates.

Similar Terms

• Short-Termism: A management style focused on immediate gains rather than sustainable success.
• Tunnel Vision: A narrow focus that overlooks broader implications or opportunities.
• Reactive Management: Addressing problems as they arise rather than proactively preventing them.

Weblinks

• psychology-lexicon.com: 'Nearsightedness' in the psychology-lexicon.com
• medizin-und-kosmetik.de: 'Kurzsichtigkeit' im Lexikon von medizin-und-kosmetik.de (German)

Summary

In quality management, nearsightedness symbolises a short-term approach that sacrifices sustainability and long-term excellence for immediate gains. Addressing this issue involves cultivating a forward-thinking mindset, prioritising strategic goals, and embedding quality practices that benefit both present and future organisational success.

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