What are Crosby's four absolutes of quality management?

Crosby's four absolutes of quality management focus on the fundamental principles that determine what quality means in an organization. The first absolute, "Conformance to requirements," asserts that quality is achieved by meeting established requirements or specifications. The second absolute, "Comes from prevention," emphasizes that effective quality management is proactive and centers on preventing defects before they occur rather than addressing them after the fact. The third absolute, "Performance standard is zero defects," sets an ideal standard that aims for perfection, advocating for the elimination of defects in processes and products. Finally, "Measurement is the price of nonconformance" reflects the idea that the costs associated with failing to meet quality standards—such as rework, returns, and lost customer trust—are critical metrics for evaluating quality performance.

The other options blend terms and concepts that do not align with Crosby’s defined absolutes. For instance, performance standards are relevant, but they are articulated in the context of zero defects, not as standalone concepts. Similarly, while training staff and performing quality audits contribute to overall quality management, they do not represent the four absolutes as defined by Crosby. Therefore, the choice that accurately encapsulates Crosby’s principles and articulates them as he intended is indeed the correct answer.