Total Quality Management (TQM)

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the changes that have taken place in today's business world, one of which was brought about by globalization and has contributed to changes in the traditional styles of management. The author also explains how a modern approach to management practices involves the adoption of total quality management (TQM) " - a way of managing for the future.

From the Paper:

"To effect improvement and assure continued success of business, decision-makers and managers at all levels should and must accept change. In accepting change, there should be a formula used that will ensure that the change is for the better and not otherwise. Thus, contemporary approaches to management styles and practices can be adopted and one of these is TQM or Total Quality Management. "TQM is the way of managing for the future, and is far wider in its application than just assuring product or service quality - it is a way of managing people and business processes to ensure complete customer satisfaction at every stage, internally and externally. TQM, combined with effective leadership, results in an organization doing the right things right, first time. (UK DTI, 2007)" In doing things right the first time, this means going through the process with careful thought and planning in order to come up with the right ingredient for success. TQM is different from traditional management styles of centralized and decentralized methods. Centralized management styles are characterized by top level decision-making and a "I'm the boss attitude" while decentralized management styles have the decision-making functions given to mid- and lower level managers and supervisors. In the end, these two management styles go through the general aspect of planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, directing and controlling - the typical business or management life cycle!"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Packard, Thomas. (2002, Nov. 4). TQM and organizational change and development. [Online] Retrieved Oct. 12, 2007 from the Reid Moomaugh & Associates database on the Website: http://www.improve.org/tqm.html.
• Richardson, W. Tim G. (2007). TQM (Total Quality Management). [Online] Retrieved Oct. 12, 2007 from the Witiger database on the Website: http://www.witiger.com/internationalbusiness/TQM.htm.
• U.K. Department of Trade and Industry. (2000, Dec. 4). Total Quality Management (TQM). [Online] Retrieved Oct. 12, 2007 from the Website: http://www.businessballs.com/dtiresources/total_quality_management_TQM.pdf.

More papers on Total Quality Management (TQM):

• Case Study # 93484 : "Total Quality Management (TQM)"
• Essay # 99203 : "Total Quality Management (TQM)"
• Term Paper # 116594 : "Total Quality Management (TQM)"
• Essay # 66625 : "Total Quality Management (TQM)"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: