A CASE STUDY TO ANALYZE THE EFFECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ON TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Authors

  • W. P. G. De Alwis
  • K. A. S. P. Kaluarachchi University of Colombo

Abstract

Total Quality Management (TQM) is now a famous worldwide theme that various organizations attempt to implement. Organizational culture plays a pivotal role in practicing TQM in both private and public sector organizations in Sri Lanka. One of the main Sri Lankan norms is that the public sector setup is more or less supportive to new practices like TQM. Thus, the researchers have selected a Sri Lankan public sector hospital, which practices TQM and won some quality awards to study the issue. The researchers have used Hofstede's cultural dimensions and some TQM practices of the organization to analyze the relationship. Through the case study strategy and the qualitative data analysis, the paper concludes that the cultural dimensions of the organization have supported its TQM practices. Therefore, even in a public sector organization in Sri Lanka, if its culture supports, it may implement new management practices like TQM appropriately.

Keywords: Organizational culture, Power distance, Uncertainty avoidance, Individualism, Masculinity, and Total quality management.

 

For full Paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk

Published

2013-02-12

Issue

Vol. 2 (2005): Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Business Management

Section

Articles