Determination of factors which influence the implementation of total quality management in Kenyan organizations

Abstract

The interest by scholars in Total Quality Management (TQM), since its entry into the management arena just over two decades ago, has grown unabated despite the controversies. criticisms and dismissive labels that have come its way. There are those who saw it right from the, beginning as a fad, just like many others before and after it. Enthusiastic proponents too have done it dis-service through hypes and selling it as a quick fix for the organizational problems arising from lack of organization-environment fit. There are situations where it has worked and there are others where it has not. This study sought to-find out the factors that influence success in TQM implementation in Kenyan organizations. This was motivated by the belief that every environment may require specific conditions for the successful implementation of TQM. Using in-depth review of the literature and case studies carried out in two Kenyan based organizations, the study finds that International Standards Organization (ISO) certification, as a tool for TQM implementation, may not, in itself. give the full picture of the integration of the concepts and principles of TQM in an organization The conclusion is that, looking at TQM as a management technology, success in terms of outcomes in organizational systems should be the approach, and that governments and management training and education institutions have a greater role to play in making TQM a successful tool of transforming organizations in Kenya. Finally, areas for future empirical study are identified as TQM-based organizational socio-techrasal systems outcomes and their impact on achievement of organizational goals. The results of this paper will form a basis for my intended doctoral research project.