Testing the readiness of an organisational culture profile to a TQM implementation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply an existing theoretical model of organisational culture contextualised for total quality management (TQM) as a means of assessing the readiness for implementing TQM in the workplace. The “Amalgamated Model” is a hybrid that encapsulates organisational culture traits and their relative contribution as indictors of effective TQM implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire that would test the theoretical model was devised and administered to a sample population in a production facility located in Central Europe, Organisation X.

Findings

A profile of the organisation was derived which revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation in relation to the cultural traits of the theoretical model.

Research limitations/implications

The research population comprised management/supervisory staff only and thus provides a partial view of Organisation X.

Practical implications

For practitioners, particularly those who specialise in quality management, the practical implications of this research are twofold: first, it provides insights into aspects of organisational culture and TQM implementation; and second, it demonstrates how a theoretical framework may be applied in the workplace to assess readiness for TQM implementation.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the subject area body of knowledge by applying a recent theoretical model to assess readiness for implementing TQM.

Citation

Tenji, T. and Foley, A. (2019), "Testing the readiness of an organisational culture profile to a TQM implementation", The TQM Journal, Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 400-416. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-01-2018-0002