Managerial Breakthrough: A New Concept for the Manager's Job

**Managerial Breakthrough** is one of Joseph M. Juran’s most influential books and a cornerstone of modern quality management and continuous improvement thinking.
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## Overview and Significance
- **First published in 1964**, *Managerial Breakthrough* was the **first book to describe a step-by-step sequence for breakthrough improvement**—a systematic approach to achieving significant, rather than incremental, performance gains in organizations.
- The book introduced the concept of **“breakthrough” improvement** as distinct from routine, incremental improvement, emphasizing the need for structured, project-based efforts to solve chronic problems and achieve substantial results.
- Juran’s methods in this book laid the groundwork for later quality improvement frameworks, including Six Sigma’s DMAIC process, and have been widely adopted in both manufacturing and service industries.
- DMAIC is a data-driven problem-solving and process improvement methodology within the Lean Six Sigma framework. It stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. DMAIC is used to identify and eliminate waste in a business process, ultimately improving performance and productivity.
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## Key Concepts
- **Managerial Breakthrough Sequence:**
Juran outlined a universal sequence for achieving breakthroughs in performance:
- Proof of the need
- Project identification and organization
- Diagnosis and analysis
- Remedial action
- Overcoming resistance to change
- Control at the new level
- **Juran Trilogy:**
The book is closely linked to Juran’s famous Trilogy—**quality planning, quality control, and quality improvement**—which together form a comprehensive approach to managing for quality and driving organizational change.
- **Focus on Cause and Effect:**
Juran emphasized understanding and managing cause-and-effect relationships in business processes, and measuring quality in financial terms to drive decisions and improvement.
- **Universal Applicability:**
Juran argued that the principles of breakthrough improvement apply not only to manufacturing but also to service industries, sales, and other business functions[2].
- **Human Dimension:**
The book highlights the importance of management responsibility, training, and overcoming resistance to change, placing the “human dimension” at the center of quality improvement.
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## Legacy and Impact
- *Managerial Breakthrough* is recognized as a **classic in management literature** and has been credited with shaping the field of quality management and continuous improvement.
- The book’s structured approach to problem-solving and improvement has influenced integrated management models and remains relevant for organizations pursuing operational excellence and transformation.
- Juran’s ideas helped catalyze the quality revolution in Japan and globally, emphasizing that quality improvement is a managerial responsibility and a strategic imperative.
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**In summary:**
*Managerial Breakthrough* by Joseph M. Juran is a foundational work that introduced the concept and methods of breakthrough improvement, established the Juran Trilogy, and provided a systematic, people-centered approach to quality and organizational change. Its influence is seen in modern quality management, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement practices worldwide.
ISBN:- ISBN-10: 0070331723; ISBN-13: 978-0070331723
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