Integrated Management System, combining all management functions into one management suite, is a major source of organizational satisfaction. This outcome is confirmed in the joint survey of QPR Software and Excellence Finland on Finnish companies‘ Integrated Management Systems. The satisfaction level is achieved when mutually agreed procedures are successfully implemented and operations are  constantly developed.

In Integrated Management System the quality, environmental and occupational health and safety issues are gathered into one entity. Inside, all matters related to the services or actions of the company, like process models, instructions, information and Key Performance Indexes are found in one common management system. “One stop shopping” is a pre-requirement for well-functioning utilization. In addition, Integrated Management Systems can be easily developed and maintained and with lower costs than with several not-connected systems.

The survey on the current situation of Finnish organizations’ Integrated Management Systems was done for the first time in November 2008. It was extended in August 2009. As the target group in both studies were the top management and persons responsible for the operational and quality excellence, answers were received from more than one hundred organizations. One fifth of those who replied to the survey worked in the public sector. One third were members of top management, and the rest were persons responsible for the operational and quality excellence.

“Organizations seem to be very rational when building their Integrated Management Systems: the systems contain the sub-areas, which are considered to have real meaning to organization’s operations. Most often the work starts from quality management and expands via environmental issues to occupational health and security. Most of the studied Integrated Management Systems included at least two sub-areas”, describes Maija Erkheikki,
Vice President for Service and Solutions at QPR Software.

Regardless of the vertical or the size of the organization the respondents stated the following tasks to be the most important functions of an Integrated Management System: describing organization’s procedures, operational briefing and induction of new employees. Meeting various certification requirements was seen only as one of the basic tasks of the Integrated Management System, which does not yet alone guarantee satisfaction towards Integrated Management Systems.

”The experience gathered from our customers showed that meeting the certification requirements and obtaining one, is clearly less expensive in an organization with a well functioning Integrated Management System, “says
Maija Erkheikki.

Sixty percent of the respondents were happy with their organization’s Integrated Management System. Drivers for the satisfaction were indentified from the following sub-areas: process management (defined processes, named process owners, regular model updating), performance measurement (executed regularly, goals have clear connection to strategy) and document management (up-to-date documents, electronic filing and easy access to documents).

“The most important element is the actual implementation of the Integrated Management System. This can be achieved when the management values the Integrated Management System and also manages the organization according to it: operations are organized according to processes and they are developed according to key performance indexes derived from the strategy. Also the procedures described in documents are applied comprehensively”, Erkheikki continues.

QPR Software offers solutions for building Integrated Management Systems. QPR’s solutions include process modeling, performance measurement and effective communication to the entire organization. A summary report of the Integrated Management Systems in Finland survey can be downloaded in Finnish from QPR website, at:
www.qpr.fi/toimintajarjestelma.html  .

About QPR Software Plc

QPR Software Plc is an international, highly recognized specialist providing software and solutions for process development and for risk management and compliance. QPR’s mission is to help people and organizations to take control of their business processes and achieve their goals. QPR software has been implemented in more than 1,500 organizations across the globe and is provided in more than 20 languages. QPR was founded in 1991, has its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland and co-operates with an extensive network of talented partners in over 50 countries worldwide. QPR Software's share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd (ticker: QPR1V), www.qpr.com.

QPR – Quality. Processes. Results. 

For more information, please contact:
QPR Software Plc
Maija Erkheikki, Vice President, Service and Solutions
Tel. +358 40 5933 644
maija.erkheikki(at)qpr.com