plementation. We will also examine the mechanisms, which guarantee the smooth and disciplined flow of this system. The implicit rules, vari- ables and quality assurance systems that surround any product are cre- ated within a trust and confidence framework, and their presence within any institution makes all the difference in enhancing performance and content. How did the concept of quality control emerge at Al Jazeera? How were its standards specified and developed throughout the network’s professional path? Finally, what mechanisms were adopted to imple- ment this concept in terms of formulation, workflows and implementa- tion? These are the questions which will be answered in the following paragraphs. Quality in Arab Heritage In his book al-Muqabasat , Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi writes, “inferi- ority versus quality of things is what reform is to corruption; and reform versus corruption in affairs is what lowliness is to loftiness in rank; and lowliness versus loftiness in rank is what ugliness is to beauty; and ugliness versus beauty in appearance is what nonsense is to eloquence in speech” (1) . Media quality systems fall within the interconnected or- ganisation that al-Tawhidi wrote about, in which he argues quality is an ongoing reform process, and that inferiority, the opposite of quality, is a cycle of corruption that does not cease. Comparing quality and inferi- ority to reform and corruption gives a strong moral boost to production within any organisation or entity. Comparing quality and inferiority to ugliness and beauty in appearance or to nonsense versus eloquence in speech can be translated into giving practical, measurable standards of quality and inferiority in any product. Quality is a standard that can be used to judge; and tying the rating of the product to these concepts is what guarantees loftiness, so long as these concepts are adopted rather than abandoned. The work of quality control helps to enhance output and employee performance and it’s a continuous process. In general, the quality con-
(1) Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi, al-Muqabasat , annotated by Hassan Al-Sindubi, Second Edition (Kuwait: Dar Suad al-Sabah, 1992), p. 208.
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