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Psycho‐social factors influencing practice of total quality management in some Nigerian organizations

Benjamin Osayawe Ehigie (Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria)
Regina Clement Akpan (Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria)

Journal of Managerial Psychology

ISSN: 0268-3946

Article publication date: 1 July 2005

2189

Abstract

Purpose

To identify some psychological and social variables that could enhance employees' adoption of total quality management (TQM) in an organization that chooses to implement the management philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey research was conducted, using 418 middle management staff, randomly drawn from some TQM and non‐TQM courier organizations in Nigeria. Respondents received standardized scales measuring perception of their leaders' leadership styles, organizational reward system and self‐report of personality attributes (psychological variables), along with items measuring gender, age, job tenure and level of education (social variables). They also responded to questionnaire items measuring the extent to which they practice TQM.

Findings

Correlation analysis show that higher level of maintenance leadership style along with lower level of performance leadership style, low levels of extraversion and neuroticism, higher level of education and shorter job tenure enhance subordinates' practice of TQM. t‐test results show that Employees in TQM organizations were significantly higher on perceived maintenance and performance leadership styles and reward but significantly lower on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism than their non‐TQM counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

All measures were based on self‐report of the respondents and data were from only service organizations, thus, limiting generalizations of the findings.

Practical implications

Implementers of TQM in organizations in Nigeria should endeavor to put in place appropriate leadership styles, consider personality attributes, level of education and duration of working in any non‐TQM organization among other personnel issues for selection and retention in a TQM practicing organization.

Originality/value

TQM is a management technique being adopted in Nigeria with some difficulties. The present study brings to focus psychological and social variables that could ease its implementation.

Keywords

Citation

Osayawe Ehigie, B. and Clement Akpan, R. (2005), "Psycho‐social factors influencing practice of total quality management in some Nigerian organizations", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 355-379. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940510602932

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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