Total Quality Management and Human Resource Management: Comparisons and Contrasts

Total Quality Management (TQM) is an important aspect of current managementthought. However, the human resource management implications of TQM have stillto be subjected to detailed analysis and investigation. This article outlines the basicelements of TQM and compares these with previous movements for managerial reform.The comparison highlights the similarities and differences with earlier schools of thoughtand the history demonstrates the need to distinguish between espoused and implementedtbeories The implications of TQM for employment relations have not been adequately thoughtthrough, but TQM can be distinguished from earlier schools of management thoughtby its orientation to systems instead of persons. To illustrate this difference, the TQMapproach is compared with the philosophy of Management by Objectives BecauseMBO has a focus on individual, rather than system performance, it can have harmfuland demotivating consequences. It is noted that the original philosophy of MBO didnot intend to encourage short-term orientations limited to financial returns. However,MBO has failed by becoming a recipe, in which the most visible features becomethe end rather than the means. TQM can avoid the dangers of demotivating people,but care will be needed to ensure that TQM does not also became a recipe, in whichcertain visible techniques replace the substance of customer focus, teamwork anddata-based decision-making.