Leadership in Total Quality Management - Coursework Example

Name Instructor Course Date Leadership in Total Quality Management Summary Leadership is critical in maximising the benefits of total quality management in a business. Total quality management is company practices and management philosophy that seeks to harness the material and human resources of a company in a way that is most effective and objective. On the other hand, leadership is the ability of an individual to lead a give team so as to meet a give set of goals. The five main theories that deal with leadership in total quality management include: Deming’s, Crosby’s, Joseph Juran’s, the EFQM framework, and Ishikawa’s theory. There are several case studies that shows the success of the total quality management framework. 1.0 Introduction Most people have ignored the application of quality management process in the business over years. However, they have started realising the importance of total quality management in business thus making efforts to integrate it in business. However, leadership is critical in improving the quality management system of a business (Dotchin and John 133). The study is critical since it helps determine the importance of leadership in sustainability of businesses. In explanation, it analyses how good leadership can enhance performance of total quality management thus sustainability of a business. There are several theories that explain the total quality management. However, leadership is what makes the total quality management principles come into action. Quality process only becomes effective if there is sound leadership. 2.0 Key Research Questions, Objectives, and Aim The study aims to comprehensively analyse leadership in total quality management. The goal of the study is to evaluate total quality management. It also aims to determine the case studies to which leadership in total quality management have been successfully applied. The study also aims to develop suitable recommendations on the application of total quality management in business leadership. The three research questions are: what is total quality management? What companies have total quality management been applied? What are the suitable recommendations when applying total quality management leadership in a business? 3.0 Literature Review 3.1 Definition of Total Quality Management and Leadership Total quality management is an integrative management philosophy aimed at continuously improving the quality of services, processes, and products. It focuses on the involvement of the workforce, management, customers and suppliers with the intention of meeting the expectations of the customers (Gharakhani et al. 47). Total quality management can also be defined as company practices and management philosophy that seeks to harness the material and human resources of a company in a way that is most effective and objective. It is a management process with a set of principles that aims to meet and exceeds the needs of the customers consistently. Total quality management entails high participation of its employees and revolves around the needs of the customers. Leadership is the ability of an individual to lead a give team so as to meet a give set of goals (Alharbi and Rushami 59). The person with such a quality is known as a leader. Leaders must have three main competences. First, they must have the ability to understand and interact with the situation. Second, leaders must have the ability to adapt to a given situation. Lastly, they must have the communication skills so as to be understood and accepted. Darling (3) defines a leader in total quality management as “a person who inspires, by appropriate means, sufficient competence to influence a group of individuals to become willing followers in the achievement of organisational goals.” 3.2 Theories of Total Quality Management There at least five theories of total quality management. First is the Deming’s theory that focuses on fourteen points of management, the Shewart cycle, and a profound knowledge system. Second is the Crosby’s theory that stipulates the four absolutes and fourteen steps that ensures continuous improvement of quality improvement (Mohammed et al. 30). Third is the Joseph Juran’s theory which is made up of quality control, quality improvement, and quality planning. There is also the European Foundation for Quality Management which has nine quality management criteria. Lastly, is the Ishikawa’s theory that depicts on how firms should handle projects dealing with quality improvement. According to Dotchin and Oakland (133), total quality management is a holistic approach that requires continuous improvement, good quality system, attentive to the process, empowered people, and customer orientation. Gharakhani et al. (46) is an important factor for a sustainable success of a company. It is important in the improvement of the organizational efficiency. Total quality management focuses on the continuous improvement of the process in the organization so as to meet the customer needs and issue superior value to the customers. In support, Mohammed et al. (30) argue that there are six strategies that can be developed for one to achieve total quality management. These strategies are: award criteria approach, Japanese total quality approach, organization model approach, guru approach, and total quality management element approach. However, Lakshman (41) argue that leadership theories do not specifically focus on the roles and quality of leaders as managers of quality management. But leadership has a great role in ensuring success of total quality management. 4.0 Case Studies 4.1 Ford Focuses on Total Quality Management Ford believes in Six Sigma. However, in the 1980s Ford emphasised in total quality management after experiencing the positive impacts that the process saw Toyota achieve. It introduced the slogan “Quality People, Quality Products” after its partnership with ChemFil who was their supplier of paints (Scheid). ChemFil is a company that assisted in production of quality paints that attracted the desired customers. Ford conducted several customer surveys that ensured they developed quality products for their customers. The top executive of Ford considered total quality management as the best idea from Henry Ford that saw production of additional vehicles. The process also ensured that the quality was maintained. However, with the introduction of Six Sigma, Ford changed its slogan to “We’ve got a better idea!” 4.2 Xerox Uses Total Quality Management to Fight Back Most of the American companies lost about 40 percent their market share to foreign companies from 1960 to 1990 (Scheid). On the other hand, the foreign market of Japan increased by about 500 percent. In reaction, Xerox integrated total quality management in its practices so as to regain its market share. It opened the Palo Alto Research Centre whose main aim was to lead the fax/copy/printer market. They focus of the company was on leadership and benchmarking. It also changed its suppliers with the intention of developing the outstanding products that could compete internationally. Xerox ended up winning the Baldridge Award for their total quality management efforts. 4.3 Exxon Uses Total Quality Management to Rebrand Total quality management focus on the quality of the products and services thus aims to improve the experience of the end-users. Since the fuel business was so competitive, Exxon decided to focus on issues related to the customers through using total quality management as opposed to competitive pricing. As a result, it became one of the companies that completely focused on total quality management (Scheid). Exxon considered quality to be the best way for process improvement as opposed to cost. As a result, the company decided to re-brand itself to a fuel provider that can be trusted. The corporate beliefs were emulated to all the service stations including the franchises that sold their products and bore the name Exxon. The company rebranded after the Exxon-Valdez oil spill disaster in 1989 after analysing the wants and needs of the customers. It took consideration of four areas of consumer and end-user confidence including being sincere in their advertising efforts, improved explanation in guarantees and warranties, easy-to-use and efficient products and services, and high quality services and products. As a result, the company embarked on a workable and new beginning that was sustainable. 5.0 Discussion and Conclusion There are several factors that can be used to define leadership that will enhance quality management. First, leaders should ensure that they are attentive through vision. Second, leaders need to ensure that communication is maximally achieved. Third, leaders need to create trust among the working partners. Furthermore, leaders should ensure that they command confidence on part of their followers through ensuring respect. Leaders should ensure that they bring commitment on others and see that the business have a positive outcome. They also need to be predictable and their positions known with all the employees. Exceptional communication skills are important so as to ensure that a given agenda is comprehensively communicated. There are several articles that explain the theory of total quality management. However, leadership is critical in achieving total quality management. In explanation, without prudent leadership, the management process will be less effective. A company might have the best management practices put in place but without best leadership it will not achieve sustainable improvement. 6.0 Recommendation There are three main roles that leaders should engage in after integrating total quality management in their firms. First, the leaders should create a suitable environment for application of total quality management. The environment should enhance the responsibilities of the employee. In explanation, each of the employees should be involved in the advancement of the business. Second, leaders should lead by example. In explanation, leaders should not lead through dictatorship but let the others to follow them. They should conduct a market research and develop a flexible strategy. Third, leaders need to craft a strategy based on total quality management and ensure their flexibility. Leaders should ensure that the unique talents and skill of the employees are unified so as to ensure high quality output. Works Cited Alharbi, Mohammad, and Rushami Zien Yusoff. "Leadership styles, and their relationship with quality management practices in public hospitals in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Economics and Management Sciences 1.10 (2012): 59-67. Darling, John R. "Total quality management: The key role of leadership strategies." Leadership & Organization Development Journal 13.4 (1992): 3-7. Dotchin, John A., and John S. Oakland. "Theories and concepts in total quality management." Total Quality Management 3.2 (1992): 133-146. Gharakhani, Davood, et al. "Total quality management and organizational performance." American Journal of Industrial Engineering 1.3 (2013): 46-50. Lakshman, C. "A theory of leadership for quality: Lessons from TQM for leadership theory 1." Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 17.1 (2006): 41-60. Mohammed, Ahlam, et al. "Organization Performance Improvement using TQM." International Journal of Computer Applications 108.9 (2014): 29-33. Scheid, Jean. Companies that benefited from TQM. Bright hub project management, 19 Dec, 2010. < http://www.brighthubpm.com/methods-strategies/99895-companies-that- benefited-from-tqm/ >. Read More