http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
London medieval trade guilds' principles and practices of product quality
This case examines the ways that medieval trade guilds put in place principles that ensured product quality. Students will study official documents called ordinances and articles (both are lists of individual requirements from the guilds). The group of ordinances and articles used in this case were written in London between 1298 and 1347. They were created for the approval of London's civic government. They defined measures to establish product quality through the regulation of raw materials and design specifications and to monitor goods through quality assurance inspectors. These documents also dictate penalties for members of the guilds who break the stated rules. Because these documents were created by guilds that produced and sold different products, their commonalities indicate that the overall concept of quality was a primary concern in maintaining the reputation of the guild. Students will apply concepts of transactional leadership, organizational culture, and quality management to the guilds' ordinances and articles.