Implementation of total quality management in some Saudi public sector organizations

Abstract EN

This study focuses on the efforts of some Saudi public organizations to implement Total Quality Management (TQM).

It mainly aims at exploring the approaches these organizations used to introduce TQM into the public sector, and to identify the factors that help or hinder successful implementation of TQM programs in the organizations under study.

The importance of the present research springs from its practical significance which provides us with first hand experience of implementing TQM programs in the Saudi public sector using snowballing method to identify organizations that implement TQM and metaplan method to interview managers and employees involved in implementing such TQM programs.

Research findings indicate differences among organizations under research in terms of main reasons for applications, level of implementation, units of application, type of TQM program adopted, training on TQM, employees understanding of TQM, leadership commitment, and statutes of TQM application.

In general, the efforts of adopting TQM philosophy in the Saudi public sector faces some difficulties which mostly relate to organizational and social factors, and it seems that there is a long way for TQM to prevail its benefits to Saudi managers and employees.

The research ends with some outlined recommendations about the best ways of implementing TQM in the Saudi public sector.