[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Needs Assessment for Quality Improvement
Are you spending too much time shuffling paper? Are you confident that you can find what you need in case of an IRS audit? Are you missing opportunities because you don’t have the information you need? Can you find the information in your office if you’re partner is not there? Does your office reflect the quality of goods and services you offer your customers?
Information is power – if you can find it when you need it. Unfortunately, in many offices it’s easier to find information in cyberspace than in the office. Ironically, the only thing in the office that technology has not changed is how we manage paper. Today’s filing systems look very similar to what Thomas Jefferson used – only there are more of them, and most of them don’t work! If you suffer from severe paper frustration, my prescription is an effective filing system. It will enable you to invest more time with your customers and be better prepared each time, and you’ll have more time to spend with your family and friends. You can approach each day with less anxiety, knowing where to put each new piece of information as it arrives, confident that you can find what you need exactly when you need it.
If you have a filing system that is not working, your best bet is to clean out your most accessible file drawer and start over by filing new papers as you get them. As you need a paper from your old system, incorporate it into the new system. After one year, put the remaining papers from the old system into less accessible space (off-site storage, garage, attic) -- or into the trash can or recycling bin......
