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The terms “standard” and “quality” are fundamental concepts in various fields, from manufacturing to education, and while closely intertwined, they represent distinct ideas. The program’s understanding of “competency,” as derived from Dr. Phorramatpanyaprat Tongprasong thesis, inherently acknowledges the role of defined expectations (standards) in achieving desired outcomes (quality), particularly in generic skills like “Thinking” and “Acting,” and implicitly through “digital technology” and “application development” (Tongprasong, 2025).

Differentiation

Standard

A standard is a defined, measurable benchmark, a set of established requirements, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that a product, service, or process should meet (ISO, n.d.). It represents a formal agreement or a documented set of criteria used as a rule, basis, or example.1Standards are often developed by authoritative bodies, industry organizations, or regulatory agencies to ensure consistency, compatibility, and a minimum acceptable level of performance. They are prescriptive, indicating what needs to be achieved.

• Focus: Prescription; what is expected or required.
• Nature: Objective, often quantitative, documented, and formal.
• Purpose: To provide uniformity, consistency, safety, and a baseline for performance; to facilitate interoperability and ensure minimum compliance.

Quality

Quality refers to the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements (ISO, n.d.). More broadly, it’s about how well a product, service, or process actually meets or exceeds the defined standards, and, crucially, how well it satisfies customer needs and expectations. Quality is often perceived subjectively by the end-user, encompassing attributes like reliability, durability, performance, and customer satisfaction (Deming, 2000). It is descriptive, indicating how well something performs.

• Focus: Performance; how well requirements are met and expectations are satisfied.
• Nature: Can be objective (meeting specifications) but also highly subjective (customer perception, value, delight).
• Purpose: To achieve customer satisfaction, build trust, enhance reputation, ensure effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement.

PT| Must: Standard & Quality |ปรมัตถ์ปัญปรัชญ์ ต้องประสงค์

Tongprasong, P.