Higher Education Institutions - The Synergies Between Total Quality Management and Social Responsibility

Abstract

Total Quality Management (TQM) is an integrated management effort aimed at improving quality at any level to achieve excellence and corporate social responsibility, like most management concepts, has been gradually incorporated into the management practice of organizations. It is important that in order to effectively manage socially responsible business, the organization needs to define strategies, programmes and action plans. CSR and TQM can improve the institution efficiency, reduce bureaucracy by eliminating duplication of policies and procedures and provide the alignment of goals and processes. There is a strategic influence of CSR in everyday practice of quality. The implementation of TQM systems can facilitate the incorporation of CSR objectives and practices by operating changes in organizational culture. Because of the environment and complex structure of higher education, quality measurement and management have given rise to a number of challenges. In a higher education institution, as in any other organisation, on the road to achieve excellence, there must be management commitment, support from administrative staff and teachers, effective and continuous communication, review, verification, validation and constructive alignment of processes. Quality indicators on sustainable development for education have been of growing interest and for this reason the possibility of creating a model that fits the reality of higher education integrating total quality and social responsibility should not be overlooked. Therefore, with this thought in mind, this work analyses the relationship or synergies between Total Quality Management and Social Responsibility themes not only associated to organisations but also associated to universities/higher education institutions.

The impacts of total quality management practices in Algerian higher education institutions

“…Third, with a path coefficient of 0.0.989 and a qualitative correlation coefficient of 0.390094, the influence of TQM on the quality of community service was assessed to be significant at 0.01. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies ( Nogueiro et al, 2011 , 2017 , 2022 ; Khoja et al, 2017 ; Banerjea, 2018 ; Yeung, 2018 ; Castillo, 2020 ), while these results differ from Koch (2003) which confirmed that the effect is small and identified the reasons for this.…”

“… Castillo (2020) reaffirmed the necessity to develop and implement TQM concepts to all aspects of higher education academic units, including teaching, research, community services, and administrative support. Furthermore, Nogueira emphasized in his different studies that TQM and CSR are two increasingly significant dimensions in creating a sustainable and hopeful future for all stakeholders, and that they are important dimensions in achieving a sustainable and promising future for all stakeholders (among others, students and workers employers, and society in general; Nogueiro et al, 2011 , 2017 , 2022 ). In Algerian universities, Khelifa et al (2013) and Keffane et al (2020) emphasized the existence of numerous effects of total quality management, including improving the quality of community service.…”

Total Quality Management and Corporate Social Responsibility (TQM-CSR) Measurement Items Design and Pilot Test

“…In contrast, CSR in education focuses on the institution's ethical, legal, and philanthropic responsibilities towards its stakeholders. The intersection of TQM and CSR, particularly in higher education, offers a unique perspective on institutional governance, emphasizing both operational effectiveness and societal impact (9) . In the context of higher education, particularly in the UAE, Almuntfjy and Kowang (10) analyze the impact of TQM and CSR on financial performance.…”