The challenge: Overcoming the pitfalls

Abstract

Experiences in the corporate sector demonstrate that there are many recipes for disaster with Total Quality Management.

Cohorts in Educational Leadership Programs: Benefits, Difficulties, and the Potential for Developing School Leaders

“…In most cases, the larger the scope and complexity of the innovation, the more difficult it is to implement (Berman & McLaughlin, 1976;Hall, 1976). The total quality management movement has suffered greatly from this problem, especially when prepackaged, large-scale programs are employed that ignore the unique characteristics of the organization and its members (Lozier & Teeters, 1993). These qualities reflect the importance of the organizational context within which the change will occur.…”

“…Typically, novel practices or ideas that are not adapted to the organizational context can become watered down, losing their intended impact. The total quality management movement has suffered greatly from this problem, especially when prepackaged, large-scale programs are employed that ignore the unique characteristics of the organization and its members (Lozier & Teeters, 1993). Therefore, future research on cohorts might address which of the features identified by Rogers (1983) are most critical in determining whether faculty are willing to invest in this approach.…”

TQM: Finding a place in student affairs

“…Additionally, because TQM principles are not universally accepted in many higher education institutions, programmatic efforts geared toward culture change and organizational transformation must be initiated. This is especially important given the indications that the inadequate management of such change is a barrier to effective TQM implementation (Lozier and Teeter, 1993;Seymour, 199 1). Educational efforts must have the goals of increasing the professional staffk knowledge of total quality concepts and practices and showing why such practices should be used in student affairs departments.…”