Purpose The purpose of this paper is to apply an existing theoretical model of organisational culture contextualised for total quality management (TQM) as a means of assessing the readiness for implementing TQM in the workplace. The “Amalgamated Model” is a hybrid that encapsulates organisational culture traits and their relative contribution as indictors of effective TQM implementation. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire that would test the theoretical model was devised and administered to a sample population in a production facility located in Central Europe, Organisation X. Findings A profile of the organisation was derived which revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation in relation to the cultural traits of the theoretical model. Research limitations/implications The research population comprised management/supervisory staff only and thus provides a partial view of Organisation X. Practical implications For practitioners, particularly those who specialise in quality management, the practical implications of this research are twofold: first, it provides insights into aspects of organisational culture and TQM implementation; and second, it demonstrates how a theoretical framework may be applied in the workplace to assess readiness for TQM implementation. Originality/value This research contributes to the subject area body of knowledge by applying a recent theoretical model to assess readiness for implementing TQM.