Why total quality management fail in Lebanon: an auditor's investigation

Purpose Understanding the factors hindering total quality management (TQM) implementation also identifies the obstacles to a successful TQM process. Accordingly, the article will guide people in charge of Lebanese organizations to benefit from acquiring an effective quality management transformation. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a sequential mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative insights from an interview with Mr. Mahmoud Lababidi, Ph.D., founder of IQS International, with quantitative data obtained through a 3-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed to TQM Auditors in Lebanon. Findings The findings highlight Lebanon's cultural and systemic challenges that hinder effective TQM implementation. The respondents considered quality management crucial to improving organizational performance and, by implication, supporting societal development. Nonetheless, significant barriers such as inconspicuousness in TQM, unfavorable government and lack of enforcement of TQM standards were mentioned as the prime reasons for TQM's failure. Originality/value This manuscript offers original insights into the specific cultural and systemic barriers to TQM in Lebanon, an area with limited prior research. The value lies in providing key factors that could lead to a failure in implementing such a process. These factors can help auditors overcome these barriers by foreseeing them for better TQM practices.