Influences on the implementation of TQM in health care organisations:professional bureaucracies, ownership and complexity

Abstract

TQM is introduced into many organisations in an attempt to improve productivity and quality. There are a numberof organisational variables that have been recognised as influencing the success of TQM implementation includingleadership, teamwork, and suppliers. This paper presents findings of a study of the implementation of TQM inAustralian health care organisations. Structural factors were observed to affect the progress of TQM. Professionalbureaucracies were less successful than machine bureaucracies. Private organisations were more successful than theirpublic counterparts.