The document discusses the evolution of the concept of quality and quality management in organizations. It begins by defining quality as conformance to specifications, then as meeting customer needs, and more recently as satisfying the needs of customers, employees, financiers, and society. In parallel, quality control has evolved to quality assurance and quality management. Quality management now encompasses all aspects of an organization and aims for total quality or excellence. The document traces this evolution from the 1920s to present day.