The implementation of TQM is an initiative that many organizations wanted to start. Assuming you are a leader in this organization, a common question you are likely to ask is, “How can I tell if my organization is successful in implementing TQM?”
TQM implementation has been on my mind for a long time and I was wondering how to measure the success of TQM implementation in an organization. If we take an organization that is a Baldrige Award winner, then my question is whether conducting an assessment based on the Baldrige Criteria is an appropriate measure of TQM success in an organization.
There is no question that measuring TQM implementation is in the interest of all, if not most leaders. Otherwise, how would you as a leader know that the effort put into implementing TQM is really worth it, even more so when many resources such as money, manpower, etc. are deployed to support the implementation of a TQM initiative?
So would you ask a similar question before the TQM initiative kicks off? Or would you wonder halfway through its execution? How would you like to measure the success of your TQM implementation? Do you accept the opinion of your management commentary alone or do you prefer to base it on some kind of evaluation result?
One of the ways to assess the success of TQM is to take a holistic approach to assessing your organization. One of the examples of this holistic approach is the evaluation approach of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This is a nationwide award system in the United States to recognize organizations for achieving excellent performance in their respective businesses.
To prepare for an assessment, you must understand the Baldrige criteria that are used as a reference for the assessment. Once you have understood the Baldrige Criteria, you will begin to make an assessment based on these criteria. You can take a self-assessment guided by the Baldrige Self-Assessment Criteria to determine your level of performance against the Baldrige Criteria. For a self-assessment, less time is needed. Alternatively, you can opt for a full-scale evaluation. This mode of assessment may be performed by your management team or by third party Baldrige Assessors.
To help you adopt the Baldrige Criteria, there are eleven core values and concepts used by the Baldrige Criteria. To jump-start your evaluation effort, perhaps start with an understanding of these core values and concepts.