Q.E.D. (QUOD ERAT DEMONSTRANDUM). That which was to be proven (Latin).

Q RATING. A measure of a celebrity’s name recognition. Advertisers frequently use celebrity testimonials and want to know in advance which “stars” are currently most popular.

Q1, -2, -3, -4. Abbreviation for first, second, third, and fourth quarter of a business year.

QT (ON THE). Secretly, without others knowing.

QUALIFIED OPINION.  The report of an independent auditor or certified public accountant stating any limitations or exceptions to a company’s audit.

QUALITY AWARDS. Citations given by governments recognizing organizations that are leaders in TQM*. The three major awards are: the Malcolm BALDRIDGE Award (< xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" prefix="st1" namespace="">U.S. private sector), The President’s Award for Quality (U.S. public sector), and the Deming Prize (Japan). The Baldridge Award has become quite competitive, with winning corporations using the award in their marketing promotions.

QUALITY CIRCLES. Management and worker groups that focus on improving the substance and value of their products.

 

“Quality Circles showed that making it right the first time, and involving everyone, made better products cheaper.”  (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 7, 2002, p.  A4)

QUALITY MANAGEMENT. Analysis of production processes and statistical error to improve efficiency and performance.

 

“Comptroller John D. Hawke Jr. directed the OCC's quality management division to examine how effectively regulators handled Riggs's compliance with federal regulations against money laundering.” (Wall Street Journal, June 2, 2004, p. B2)

QUALITY OF LIFE. Living conditions.

QUALITY TIME. Short but satisfying periods of time spent with family members. Harried executives often talk about spending quality time with members of their family.

QUEEN BEE. Office matron; woman in charge of an office. The phrase is considered offensive, sexist.

 

“Queen bees tend to seek others' perspectives when planning or making decisions.” (Fortune Small Business, May 2002, p. 67)

QUICK AND DIRTY. Cheap, easy, but often second-rate solution to a problem.

 

“Allowing market forces to work sounds good to us, but first let's look at how China is failing to do so before jumping for the quick and dirty fix of currency manipulation.” (Wall Street Journal, Sept. 3, 2003, p. A16)

QUICK BUCK. Money made fast.

 

“And two days earlier state attorney general Bill Lockyer filed charges against a second law firm engaged in what he called a ‘quick-buck racket.’” (Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2003, p. A10)

QUID PRO QUO. Something for something (Latin). Many business agreements have implicit quid pro quo understandings.

 

“It's part of a quid pro quo relationship that aims to bolster the retailer and the supplier. In the case of Wal-Mart, the store gives a category leader exclusive access to market-share information of its rivals, food executives say.” (Wall Street Journal, Oct. 28, 2004, p. A1)