Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) Practice Test

In TQM, decisions should be based on which of the following?

1. Intuition

2. Employee hierarchy

3. Facts and data

4. Past experiences only

The correct answer is: Facts and data

In Total Quality Management (TQM), decisions should be based on facts and data because this approach emphasizes the importance of information in driving quality improvements and organizational effectiveness. Utilizing accurate data helps to identify issues, measure performance, and assess the effectiveness of changes made within the organization. It fosters an environment where decisions are objective, reducing reliance on subjective opinions, personal biases, or anecdotal evidence. Basing decisions solely on intuition, employee hierarchy, or past experiences can lead to inconsistencies and may not accurately reflect the current realities of a situation. While intuition might play a role in decision-making, relying exclusively on it without supporting data can lead to errors. Similarly, decisions driven by employee hierarchy may overlook the valuable insights that data can provide, and focusing only on past experiences risks repeating mistakes instead of innovating and improving processes. Therefore, grounding decisions in facts and data is essential for effective management and leading towards continuous quality improvement within an organization.