In April 2016 Manchester eScholar was replaced by the University of Manchester’s new Research Information Management System, Pure. In the autumn the University’s research outputs will be available to search and browse via a new Research Portal. Until then the University’s full publication record can be accessed via a temporary portal and the old eScholar content is available to search and browse via this archive.

Is total quality management really unique?

Boaden, R J

Total Quality Management. 1996;7(5):553-570.

Access to files

Full-text and supplementary files are not available from Manchester eScholar. Full-text is available externally using the following links:

Full-text held externally

Abstract

The main proposition of this paper is that the Principles commonly accepted as defining total quality management (TQM) are not unique to TQM but are part of many other organizational change initiatives or generally accepted 'good' management practice. The paper traces the development of TQM and the concept of management 'fads' and describes the development and definition of a number of approaches: world class manufacturing, guru theory, continuous improvement (CI), business process re-engineering (BPR) and human resource management. These approaches are then compared with each other and with the principles and practices a TQM. It is concluded that 'customer focus' is a key element of all approaches, as is 'commitment' and 'involvement' of an employees, although this is interpreted in various ways. TQM is not as unique as some of its proponent's claim, with its emphasis on processes shared with BPR, and CI one of its basic principles, although its development from the mathematical foundation of quality control does make it unusual. At best, TQM. may be viewed as an alternative focus on a common set of management principles, derived from a statistical base, and at worst simply another management fad. Further work if needed to test the ideas of this paper in practice.

Bibliographic metadata

Type of resource:
Content type:
Author(s):
Published date:
Journal title:
ISSN:
Volume:
7
Issue:
5
Start page:
553
End page:
570
Total:
18
Pagination:
553-570
ISI Accession Number:
WOS:A1996VW13500008
Related website(s):
  • Related website <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1996VW13500008
General notes:
  • Times Cited: 7 0 7
Access state:
Active

Institutional metadata

University researcher(s):

Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:290702
Created by:
Boaden, Ruth
Created:
15th December, 2015, 20:50:23
Last modified by:
Boaden, Ruth
Last modified:
15th December, 2015, 20:50:23

Can we help?

The library chat service will be available from 11am-3pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). You can also email your enquiry to us.