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• Module overview
• 1. The concept of Quality
  • 1.1 The concept of Quality
  • 1.2 The role of Quality in business
    • 1.2.1 Measuring Quality and performance

• 2. Quality Assurance

  • 2.1 The genesis of ISO 9000
  • 2.2 QA as a system
  • 2.3 The ISO 9000 series
    • 2.3.1 The nature of standards
  • 2.4 The path to accreditation
    • 2.4.1 Development
    • 2.4.2 Implementation
    • 2.4.3 Maintaining the system
  • 2.5 The role of Quality Assurance

• 3. Total Quality Management

  • 3.1 Productivity, profitability and quality
    • 3.1.1 Cost and quality
  • 3.2 TQM
  • 3.3 Implementing Quality
  • 3.4 The thinkers and their teachings
    • 3.4.1 Deming
    • 3.4.2 Juran
    • 3.4.3 Crosby
  • 3.5 TQM - core concepts
  • 3.6 Implementing TQM
    • 3.6.1 Establishing the quality culture

• 4. Kaizen - continuous improvement

  • 4.1 Customer satisfaction: a broadening base
    • 4.1.1 A comment on customer satisfaction
  • 4.2 The Motorola approach
    • 4.2.1 The background
  • 4.3 Implementing Six Sigma
    • 4.3.1 Six Sigma - a panacea?
    • 4.3.2 Innovation, kaizen and Six Sigma
  • 4.4 Process management
    • 4.4.1 Process improvement tools

• 5. Quality in transport

  • 5.1 Quality in a service industry
  • 5.2 Implementing quality in transport
    • 5.2.1 Benefits of environmental responsibility
    • 5.2.2Contribution to profitability
  • 5.3 Quality Costs
    • 5.3.1 Quality costing in practice
  • 5.4 Multimodal transport and sub-contracting
  • 5.5 Quality in the operator-client relationship
  • 5.6 Importance of Quality to transport services

• 6. Quality of customer service

  • 6.1 Link between quality and customer service
  • 6.2 Defining customer service quality
  • 6.3 Customer service quality failures
  • 6.4 Improving customer service quality
    • 6.4.1 Pros and cons: SERVQUAL in practice

• 7. The customer service concept

  • 7.1 Exceptional service = repeat business
  • 7.2 Value: the fundamental equation
  • 7.3 A note on terminology
  • 7.4 Recognise all the players
  • 7.5 Key element for success: know your customers
  • 7.6 What is a service?
  • 7.7 The rise of the service society

• 8. The role of management: corporate principles

  • 8.1 "Everybody pitches in"
    • 8.1.1 Raising the bar
    • 8.1.2The role of senior and top managers
  • 8.2 The functions of management
  • 8.3 Approaches to customer services: industry examples

• 9. Know your customer: exceeding expectations

  • 9.1 Identifying and fulfilling customers' needs and expectations
    • 9.1.1 Initial impressions: starting out right
    • 9.1.2 Identifying customer needs
    • 9.1.3 The right amount of attention
  • 9.2 The right attitude: the right approach
    • 9.2.1 Maintaining a positive attitude
    • 9.2.2 Positive attitudes offer a formula for success
    • 9.2.3 Promise good. Deliver great!
    • 9.2.4 Showing that you care
    • 9.2.5What is in it for you?
  • 9.3 Know your competition
    • 9.3.1 Key questions about competitors
  • 9.4 A note on ethics in customer service

• 10. Taking care of challenging customers: complaints are opportunities!

  • 10.1 Welcoming complaints
    • 10.1.1Some facts about customers
  • 10.2 Handling complaints:
    • 10.2.1 a postcard from the sharp end
    • 10.2.2 Recoveries
    • 10.2.3 What to do
  • 10.3 Testing your standards
    • 10.3.1 So how can you get assistance in using these techniques?
  • 10.4 Unhappy customers? Difficult customers?

• 11. The rights of the customer and the service provider

  • 11.1 What are these rights?
    • 11.1.1 Moral rights
    • 11.1.2 Consumer Rights
    • 11.1.3 Legal rights and responsibilities: the Trade Practices Act
  • 11.2 The impact of fair trading legislation
    • 11.2.1 Fair trading and communication
    • 11.2.2 Customer service pyramid
  • 11.3 A note on e-commerce

• 12. Communication in the servicescape

  • 12.1 Communicating effectively
    • 12.1.1The effect of ineffective communication
  • 12.2 The communication process
  • 12.3 Barriers to effective communication
    • 12.3.1 Individual perception
  • 12.4 Non-verbal communication
    • 12.4.1 A matter of terminology
    • 12.4.2 It is not what you say but how you say it
    • 12.4.3 A word of warning
  • 12.5 Customer service on the telephone:
    • 12.5.1 a performing art
    • 12.5.2 A note on speaker phones
  • 12.6 Email and the Net

11.1.3 Legal rights and responsibilities: the Trade Practices Act

The concept of fair trading is not unique to Australia . The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and most of Europe have or are about to enact legislation similar to the Trade Practices Act .

The Trade Practices Act plays a key role in the promotion of a fair and competitive operating environment. It prohibits anti-competitive mergers, outlaws cartels, market sharing and price fixing and the misuse of market power. The following reading, written by The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ( Canberra ) is designed with small businesses in mind; however, the ideas can be applied across a range of situations. Skim read through the material below - as a service provider you are responsible for knowing what similar and related legislation is applicable to your own unique trading/service situation.

Reading 11.2

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 2002, extracts from Small Business and the Trade Practices Act .

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