Investigating practitioner's understanding of TQM in small and medium construction companies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Generally, there is confusion as to what constitutes TQM, though it can be regarded as a set of concepts and tools for getting all employees focused on continuous improvement, various schools of thought have defined or classified the critical success factors as constructs, concepts and principles. Whereas a concept may be defined essentially as a business philosophy, a company ideal or a policy statement, the confusion in the terminology can lead to uncertainty, as noted by several authors. Furthermore what might be called core values such as customer focus, continuous improvement, or process orientation are one and the same thing as principles; dimensions; elements; or cornerstones and interventions. There is an obvious omission of a practical methodology of understanding the stated terminology. The main aim of this paper is to provide a practical approach for understanding the quality management terminology. Using the existing quality management measurement instruments available in literature, the terminology used is classified into constructs, practices and finally tools or techniques. Quality Management may then be viewed as a combination of the three sets of terminology. These four dimensions were deemed to be interrelated and mutually support each other. Drawing on the quantitative study which investigated the implementation of TQM within the SME, the critical factors of TQM as used in that study as used to demonstrate the practical approach or methodology for the understanding of the terms thus used. Having classified the broad areas of where SMEs can align their TQM applications, the study indicates that constructional related SMEs can align their TQM application into one of the following areas; Customer Oriented TQM, Supplier Oriented TQM; HRM Oriented TQM; or Process Oriented. For the benefit of practitioners within the Construction Management field, a bit of clarity is required as regards the terminology used. This study contributes to clarifying the conflicting results being reported in the quality management literature which inevitably leads to having different levels of analysis of Quality Management. Accordingly, the strength of quality management compared with other business philosophies should then focus on the practical methodology, namely the practices and techniques.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAssociation of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2006 - Procs 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference
Pages59-70
Number of pages12
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
Event22nd Annual Conference on Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2006 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Duration: 4 Sept 20066 Sept 2006

Publication series

NameAssociation of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2006 - Procs 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference
Volume1

Conference

Conference22nd Annual Conference on Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBirmingham
Period4/09/066/09/06

Keywords

  • Assessment
  • Construction industry
  • Quality management
  • Quantitative
  • SMEs
  • UK

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Investigating practitioner's understanding of TQM in small and medium construction companies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this