Chief executives – hear thyselves: leadership requirements for 5‐S/TQM implementation in healthcare

The provision of leadership by senior management of an organisation is universally acclaimed by most writers as one of the most important factors for the successful implementation of total quality management. However, there has been little attempt to delineate the essential leadership requirements for TQM, particularly in a healthcare setting. Based on a survey of 50 chief executives within the UK National Health Service, the first empirically based leadership requirements model which uniquely integrates the Japanese 5‐S ( Seiri , Seiton , Seiso , Seiketsu , Shitsuke ) for the health industry is offered.