Characterizing the awareness of values in ISI2020 system

Abstract

This is an exploratory applied research to characterize the awareness of values in the ISI2020 System. ISI2020 System is a values-based quality management system intended primarily for organizations serving the Muslim Ummah. As such, the values espoused are based on the tenet of Islam as derived from the sources of the Quran, Sunnah of Prophet SAW, Qias and Ijmak. There is a need to discover the characteristics of this awareness as the current quality improvement system is perceived to be lacking in ethical and moral elements and inconsistent with Islamic world view. Imam Al Ghazzali’s epistemology of morality and spirituality is used as the framework to explore, orientate and define the awareness of these values. Subsequently, the relevant factors and dimensions affiliated to the value are identified and examined. Ghazzali argued that ultimately, these values are related to the knowledge of the transcendent and its awareness is the consciousness of the presence of the Divine Attribute and Essence related to the Islamic Cosmos. The research methodology used is a survey questionnaires administered to 80 participants from 4 organization in Malaysia. The analysis uses multiple regression as a tool in identifying the significance of the factors and dimensions. The results affirmed Al Ghazzali’s premise that all the factors are significant in creating conscious awareness of the values. However, in this study the factors only explained 72% of the effect. This is also in line with Al Ghazzali’s assertion that there is a limitation to the full awareness of knowledge of the Divine Essence. To the best of the author’s knowledge this is the first time such a research is ever conducted and therefore there is ample scope for further investigation of other contributory factors and dimensions. The understanding of this awareness “levers” will empower the individual to make a conscious choice of ethical and moral action in this earthly existence. These God-fearing individuals taking various roles and responsibilities in organizations will steer the organization to prosperity and development through ethical and just trade practices. For a Muslim, this is congruent with the dictates of his religious demand i.e to fulfill Allah’s plan of establishing prosperity here on earth as his Khalifah to carry the obligation of the Amanah.