According to Crosby's Absolutes of Quality Management, what is the definition of quality?

The definition of quality according to Crosby's Absolutes of Quality Management is "Conformance to requirements." This concept emphasizes that quality is determined by how well a product, service, or process meets predefined standards or specifications. When an organization delivers products that conform to set requirements, it effectively assures that the output will satisfy customer needs and expectations. This perspective shifts the focus from subjective perceptions of quality to objective criteria, making it clearer and more measurable.

Crosby's approach underscores the importance of establishing clear requirements and adhering to them, as this not only improves the quality of outputs but also enhances customer satisfaction and reduces costs associated with poor quality. While meeting customer expectations is certainly a vital aspect of quality, Crosby's definition specifically ties quality to the adherence to established standards, which is foundational in quality management practices. The other options, while relevant in different contexts of quality management, do not encapsulate Crosby’s explicit definition as directly as the idea of conformance to requirements does.