Design of a Practical Framework for Implementing and Sustaining Quality

Abstract

There are many challenges facing Sudanese organizations in today's competitive market. One of these major challenges is the ability of Sudanese organizations to effectively introduce quality management approaches such as Total Quality Management (TQM) that can empower their people and improve their ability to respond to international competition. The main aim of this study was to identify the drivers to the adoption of TQM in Sudanese organizations and to develop a model through which Sudanese organizations could implement and maintain improved quality systems. To achieve this aim, the research approach adopted quantitative method. A generic framework of the critical success factors for implementing TQM was developed from the literature and endorsed by practitioners and experts in the field. Structured questionnaires were utilized to elicit the opinions of 36 people from the Sudanese organizations regarding the extent of quality management initiatives implemented in these organizations. The research indicates a low level of critical TQM success factors within the Sudanese organizations, mostly caused by a minimal awareness of TQM philosophy, methods and tools, especially among top management. It also indicates that quality initiatives and practices in Sudanese organizations are still in the early stages and most of the organizations studied were proceeding with quality improvement programs without a well-defined vision and objectives. Based on these results the original TQM framework was modified for use within Sudanese organizations. The framework propagates an approach to implementation incorporating top-down deployment and bottom-up participation. It prescribes guidelines for introducing TQM in four phases and is designed to help Sudanese organizations get started and move step-by-step towards a TQM culture. Moving from one phase to the next depends upon the harnessing of knowledge and expertise gained during the previous phase and fulfilling each phase assessment criteria. The implementation of this model will work faster and more efficiently if there is strong commitment from the top management and employees within the Sudanese organizations.