The mission is to establish a continuous learning environment of mutual respect and trust in school-related communities by teaching problem-solving processes and utilizing teamwork which improve all students’ ability to learn current curriculum and prepare for real life choices.
(See QUEST in the School Framework).
What is QUEST?
QUEST is a teaching tool. The QUEST acronym stands for Quest for Useful Employment Skills for Tomorrow. The
tool consists of a process focusing on team building and problem solving skills that yields a discipline that creates an engaging and
accountable environment for participants.
Why is QUEST Important?
Employers of virtually all types seek qualified employees who understand and can demonstrate behaviors that
sustain effectiveness in the workplace. The fundamental skills under girding these behaviors are teamwork, communication, problem
solving, leadership and the ability to learn. Inherent in learning and practicing these skills is a commitment to the values of
mutual respect, trust and continuous improvement. In the absence of these values the behaviors are truncated and often fail to
develop.
It is clear that these desirable behaviors, skills and values can be taught and learned. The process and
discipline of teaching them is based on practices pioneered by the Toyota Company in its Quality Circles Program. Over a period
of many years, that approach has continued to evolve into an entire organizational culture; for a full discussion of that culture
and the significance of the behaviors, skills and values for individual and organizational effectiveness, see Jeffrey K. Liker
and Michael Hoseus, Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way, McGraw-Hill, 2008.
In working with the individuals and groups in its three service areas-education, business and community-the
Center for Quality People and Organizations has engaged students, prospective job applicants and on-board employees, as well as
citizens in the process and discipline of QUEST Learning Skills. Invariably, the participants experienced the training as
accessible, engaging and productive. Moreover, while the training content is virtually identical from area to area, it can be
appropriately adapted to members of the three service areas: to young children through faculty and school administrators, to
frontline workers through managerial staff, and to citizens in all walks and levels of life.
Most importantly, QUEST Learning Skills yield results for all groups: increased learning, effective
performance and meaningful participation.
Who is in charge of QUEST Learning Skills?
Staff members of the Center for Quality People and Organizations have considerable hands-on experience
in utilizing, consulting, adapting and providing training in the QUEST Learning Skills curriculum.
How are the QUEST Learning Skills structured for training?
The offering of QUEST Learning Skills is highly variable, depending on the learning groups, the
organizational context and the purposes of which the training is a part. For example, the skills can be offered in two-day
sessions with no scheduled follow-up meetings or over a several week period incorporated into frontline supervisor training
and accompanied by on-the-job problem solving projects. In all offerings, the form of the training is adapted to the purpose
and the group.
The content of the training curriculum is in two main parts: 1) Learning Teamwork through Meeting
Facilitation and 2) Problem Solving. The elements of each of these parts can be briefly characterized as follows:
- Learning Teamwork through Meeting Facilitation consists of learning, participating and understanding a four-step
process and corresponding components. The training focuses on engaging the participants in topics and activities that
enable tem to work together to solve problems and/or address issues within the group. Meeting facilitators who follow
the four steps can achieve the desirable and anticipated outcomes of the meeting, with team buy-in, and without wasting
time.
- Step One: Preparation (5 components)
- Gather Materials
- Prepare Agenda
- Job List
- Decision-Making Method
- Record Ideas Contributed by the Team
- Step Two: Use QUEST Tools to Conduct the Meeting (3 components)
- Identify Roles
- Develop a List of Ground Rules for the Team to Follow
- Practice the Different Types of Process Tools for the Activity
- Step Three: Review Meeting Assignments to Determine Next Steps (1 component)
- Step Four: Utilize the Meeting Review to Capture Improvement Items (1 component)
- See the QUEST Facilitation Wheel (
 ) for a visual summary of the steps and components.
- Problem Solving consists of learning, participating and understanding a four-step process and corresponding
components. The training focuses on engaging in topics and activities that enable the participants to take
initiative and meet the demands of practical but challenging problems. The training builds on the work of W.
Edwards Deming, the renowned quality control methods theorist and teacher, and his Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle.
The emphasis in the PDCA cycle is on several distinct components and related techniques: problem identification,
cause investigation, countermeasure selection, countermeasure implementation, monitoring results, and standardization
with continuous improvement. The four-step cycle and its component techniques provide a discipline that develops an
individual's ability to think critically in the context of a team.
- Step One: Plan (6 techniques)
- Problem Identification (6 techniques)
- Cause Investigation (6 techniques)
- Select Countermeasures (3 techniques)
- Step Two: Do (4 techniques)
- Countermeasure Implementation
- Step Three: Check (4 techniques)
- Study the Results of the Countermeasures
- Step Four: Act (6 techniques)
- Standardize and Plan Continuous Improvement
- See the QUEST Plan-Do-Check-Act Wheel () for a visual summary of the steps and techniques.
Where is additional information on QUEST Learning Skills available?
The Center for Quality People and Organizations (CQPO) can provide additional and detailed information on the
QUEST Learning Skills curriculum, training materials and types of training offered.
To talk with a member of the CQPO staff, call Jean Jeffords at 502-897-3995 or email her at
jean.jeffords@cqpo.org Ms. Jeffords can facilitate connection with one of the Quest Learning Skills
instructors or consultants who can focus on specific organizational and training needs.
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