Total Quality Management

Does TQM benefit employees? As with almost all issues surrounding Total Quality Management, there is much confusion in academia as to whether TQM benefits employees. Much of the confusion arises from the difficulty of defining TQM. Academics and practitioners often disagree about the benefits (and even the objectives) of TQM.. Several quality "gurus'" and consulting firms are guilty of pushing a "condense(d) TQM theory" which has been simplified "to an easily imitated formula." (Steel 17). …

…clear that at least in some cases, TQM increases job satisfaction. The criticism of TQM as a "resurrection of Taylorism," although making a few intelligent arguments, seems rather extreme on the whole. Although it is certainly true that not all employees enjoy the benefits of more work, theory and the little research there is provides good reason to believe that employees are working harder and enjoying greater job satisfaction as well under Total Quality Management.