Development of the Information System Structure for Continuous Improvement of QMS in an Educational Institution

Abstract

The paper describes information technologies and their applications to improve the efficiency of the organization. The use of information technologies for improving the quality management system (QMS) of the educational institution is shown. Internal and external information flows within the QMS of educational institutions based on the example of Tomsk polytechnic university (TPU) are described. The structure of information flows for basic processes of TPU activities in QMS is developed. A practical impact of the information system on continuous improvement of QMS in TPU is demonstrated. The use of information technologies (IT) increased the potential of companies in more effective product and service quality management, contributing to the improvement of technological process, compliance with requirements and standards and maximizing customer satisfaction. Thus, the application of IT becomes relevant for QMS improvement in educational institutions. Information systems development and computerization in the modern educational system are focused on development of optimal conditions for satisfaction of information needs of objects and subjects of the educational process, based on formation and use of information resources. Moreover, the technical support base for information processing and storing is being developed. In the study of the question posed the following methods were used: the methods of structural and system analysis. The aims and objectives of the application of IT in the QMS of educational institutions are: more effective management of the information process; improving the quality and effectiveness of the decisions in the field of quality of educational services management; more effective management (registration, storage, processing and transmission) of information resources of educational institutions; ensuring the effective integration of heterogeneous information resources from various sources in the information system of QMS; improving the efficiency of information interaction of all stakeholders in the field of quality assurance in educational institutions. Accordingly, the information and technology support for QMS can rely on the existing organizational software. It can be customized to reflect processes of the life cycle, which affect quality. It can additionally record the results of operations for the collection, recording and processing of data (records and quality reports). However, from our point of view, the main tasks of introduction of information technologies in QMS are tasks of " processes organization " , support for " system and process approaches " , as the organization's management methods – management – are built on the principles of quality management. While introducing IT in QMS in an organization there many general questions and challenges. Since the amount of information is enormous and beyond perception ability, it is possible to accomplish the following tasks: rational organization of information flows, selection and processing of information relevant to the activities of the company. Enterprise information environment is determined by a specific type of resource support of the processes -information resource of the management system. Any organization is a system, operating on the basis of information links, which can be represented as a system of organization of internal and external flows, as well as methods and tools of search, processing and distribution of information in the organization [1]. Let us consider internal and external information flows within the QMS of educational institutions (EI). Internal information flows are͗ -information about the organizational structure, including organizational units, their responsibilities, functions, composition; -description of the process;