Organisational Audit

Organisational Audit covers all aspects of your service and is closely linked to quality assurance.

Definition:
‘More appropriately interpreted as an umbrella term, embracing all aspects of quality measurement and improvement. (Walshe and Coles, 1993)

This definition is in line with the use of quality assurance is a cyclical process with three essential stages:
·        identifying high quality
·        measurement what is happening
·        taking action to remedy any discrepancies.

There are several models for organisational audit.  It is considered by some managers that audit is an one-off and isolated event.  However, it is considered that an overall unit-wide quality framework is the best option.

In sites were there is no quality department the aim could be for quality to become an integral part of each service, rather than a separately stimulated activity.  This would result in each service producing it’s own business plan outlining their quality objectives.

A ‘bottom-up’ approach to organisational audit provides better communication between colleagues and where improvements have been identified the same principle could be ‘rolled-out’ to other areas of the organisation.