Total quality: Leading by example

Abstract

Around 80% of all Total Quality initiatives in the UK will fail because they do not have the backing of the senior management team. The senior team, in many cases, do not realise that they have to change the way they manage, including their style. Many think that public exhortation of the TQM philosophy is their only responsibility. When TQM dies because of their failure to lead by example, they move onto the next ‘managerial gimmick’ hoping that it will give them the success they crave.