There are eight key elements on which an organization must focus to implement TQM with success:
1. Ethics
2. Integrity
3. Trust
4. Training
5. Teamwork
6. Leadership
7. Recognition
8. Communication
These eight elements are further clubbed into four groups as
follows, based on their function:
1. Group I – Foundation –
Ethics, Integrity and Trust
2. Group II – Building
Bricks – Training, Teamwork and Leadership
3. Group III – Binding Mortar – Communication
4. Group IV – Roof - Recognition
1. Foundation: A foundation of ethics, integrity, and trust helps create an open and fair environment that fosters everyone's involvement in the organization. Ethics deals with what is good and bad in a given situation, both at the individual and organizational levels. Integrity refers to the honesty with which one adheres to facts. When ethics are followed with integrity, it leads to the development of trust, the third element of the ‘foundation’, which creates an environment of cooperativeness.
2. Building Bricks: Employees need to be trained in performing their duties correctly and in problem-solving. They must also be trained in interacting with others to do their jobs better through teamwork. Any team is only as good as its leader, though, and so, there has to be inspirational leadership by someone who understands TQM and is committed to it in daily practice.
3. Binding Mortar: The link that binds all elements of
TQM is communication which refers to a common understanding of the message by
both the sender and receiver. Openness in communication between members of an
organization, vendors, and customers is key to the success of TQM.
4. Roof: Recognizing the contributions of people in an
organization, whether for teams or for individuals, is the final element in
TQM. When employees receive recognition, it brings about a leap in their
self-esteem and such employees are more motivated which ultimately leads to
better productivity and quality of work they do.