______________is a statement of principles, and a broad guide to action.

A quality policy is a formal, high-level statement from an organization's top management that outlines its overall intentions, principles, and direction concerning quality. It serves as a foundational framework for setting quality objectives and guides the entire organization's actions towards achieving its quality goals. This directly matches the description of a "statement of principles, and a broad guide to action." It establishes the 'why' and 'what' of the quality management system at a strategic level, from which more detailed standards, procedures, and guidelines are derived.

A. Quality Standards: These are specific, mandatory requirements and criteria for products or processes, not a broad statement of principles.

C. Quality Procedures: These are detailed, step-by-step instructions for performing specific tasks, making them prescriptive rather than a broad guide.

D. Guidelines: These are recommended practices or suggestions, which are typically less formal and not a foundational "statement of principles" like a policy.

1. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2015). ISO 9000:2015 Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary.

Section 3.5.9: Defines policy as "intentions and direction of an organization... as formally expressed by its top management." It specifies that a quality policy is a policy related to quality.

Section 2.3.3.1: Explains that the quality policy "provides a framework for setting and reviewing quality objectives." This supports its role as a "broad guide to action."

2. Hoyt, D. (2011). Quality Management and Process Improvement. Purdue University, College of Technology Courseware.

Module 2, Section: The Quality Policy: "The quality policy is a statement from top management which expresses their commitment to quality. It should be a short, easily understood statement that serves as a guide for the actions of the entire organization." This aligns with the definition in the question.

3. Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2014). Quality management for organizational excellence. Pearson.

Chapter 9, Section: The Quality Policy: This university-level textbook states, "The quality policy is a guide for everyone in the organization as to how they should provide products and service to the customers." This reinforces its function as a "broad guide to action."