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Kowo Solomon
Akpoviroro 1
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL
QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) IN THE
Akinbola Olufemi
TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY:
Amos
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
Akinrinola Olalekan
Abstract: The study examines the Implementation of Total
Quality Management (TQM) in the Telecommunications
Industry: Problems and Prospects with a focus on Globacom
Nigeria PLC. Some firms aspire to be market leaders without
considering their customers as being vital to their success.
This has led to the collapse of erstwhile good businesses. Two
research questions were posed for the study and two
hypotheses formulated in line with the objectives. The paper
adopted survey method. 124 copies of questionnaire was
given to the respondents to write clearly their views and
observations. The population of the study is Globacom
Nigeria. (SPSS) and (Cronbach’s alpha) was employed. Also
descriptive, statistical and content analyses techniques were
used in the analysis of the data collected. The study made use
of statistical tools such as regression analysis in testing
hypotheses and ANOVA which helped in the interpretation of
results. The study found out that Strategic Management
Process significantly affects Total Quality Management
implementation and also planning and training method
significantly affects Total Quality Management
implementation in the Organization. The results indicated
that if the Total Quality Management principles are fully
integrated into the organizational functions and the Total
Quality Management quality tools applied, then the benefits
to be borne are immeasurable..
Keywords: Total Quality Management Implementation,
Strategic Management Process, Planning and Training
Method.
1
Corresponding author: Kowo Solomon Akpoviroro
Email: kowosolomon@gmail.com
301
Products need not conform to consumer’s guarantee the ultimate realization of the
requirements, but must also be acceptable. organizational goals(Parasuraman,2003).
All scientific and social scientific research is Fourth, due to lack of knowledge of the
necessitated by a perceived problem prospects of Total Quality Management, or
(Nzelibe and Ilogu, 1996). As such the quest lack of adequate finance or engagement of
and desire of the researcher to study on this inexperienced personnel in Total Quality
topics. Companies producing homogenous Management process or lackadaisical
products and services have to device attitude on the part of the organization
workable strategies on how to woo the concerning Total Quality Management, the
limited number of consumers (customers) to Total Quality Management impact in the
their sales. Managers in Western countries Nigerian industries which the
and parts of Asia have been known to have Telecommunications industry is part of,
delved into the use of Total Quality becomes problematic hence, the weak or
Management in order to enable them poor service delivery of the industry in the
compete in the global or international actualization of its desired goals and
market, and they seem to be doing quite well objectives(Aluko,2004). It is therefore, in the
(at least evidence from Japanese and USA light of the foregoing that the study is set to
auto and electronics companies is a clear investigate the reality in the above problems
example (Cua, Mekone & Schroeder, 2001; and further identify and determine other
Beer, 2003;Wheelen & Hunger, 2004).The Total Quality Management challenges;
necessity of Total Quality Management in equally, the prospects that are likely to
Nigerian Business Organizations stems from emerge in the proper implementation of
the fact that foreign companies have Total Quality Management.
continued to dominate the local market in
virtually all sections of the economy, except 1.1. Research Objectives
for those sectors that are under complete
government control. The problems i. i) To determine the effect of
associated with the Nigerian companies in strategic management process on
relation to Total Quality Management are Total Quality Management
quite enormous and these can be put as ii. ii) To examine the effect of
follows: First, the Nigerian companies are planning and training method on
evidently lagging behind in the global or Total Quality Management.
international market competition; thus, they
are fast losing ground, with some of them 1.2. Research Questions
going out business completely (Wilkinson &
Dale, 2001). Second, the Nigerian Managers i. How does strategic management
have seemingly failed to explore Total process influence Total Quality
Quality Management for their organizations. Management?
They have rather gotten struck in the endless ii. To what extent has planning and
pursuit of what does not work for them any training method affected Total
longer, the “blind” pursuit of profit stability Quality Management?
and growth (Robins et al, 2000; Cooper &
Schindler, 2000; Aeker, 1993). Third, they 1.3. Significance of The Study
have failed to appreciate that change is
necessary and that a change from the above Strategic management is currently gaining
stated pursuit to the pursuit of a consumer ground in management thinking. At the same
(customer) focus strategy is a long overdue time, establishing a successful corporate
strategy decision that has been tipped to strategy is central to effective strategic
303
Gatiss (1996) noted that Quality is the strategy fit.
concept the consumer has about is decision
to be associated with an organization. The 2.3. Challenges of Total Quality
customer is putting his own judgment and Management Impacts on Consumers
reputation on the line when he decides to
take what you are offering. He expects you
The following are the problems associated
will honour a lifetime of support if that is
with Total Quality Management which
necessary, otherwise he will perceive that
affects its real and effective implementation.
your product is not total quality
(Parasuraman, 2008). From an internal i. Misconception of Total Quality
customer viewpoint, one’s product or job Management
function can affect another’s performance According to Sashkin and Kiser (1993) A
and career. “If your deliverable is not total TQM culture is based on certain values and
quality, then his perception of you will by, leadership vision. Unfortunately, many
default, be one of not total quality” says organizations lack the knowledge of the
Gatiss (1996). “He may expect your efficacy of these three foundations. Some
involvement and help even though you may focus only on customers and forgets the
feel it’s not your job”. Consequently, Gatiss other two, while some focus on organization
defines quality as meeting the customer culture, forgetting how important a customer
requirements at all times and striving to is or how significant and highly important it
exceed them whenever possible. is to offer the customer with the best quality
products which can only be achieved
through the acquisition of good planning and
2.2. Strategy Analysis skills for identification and solution to
problem(Oakland,1993).
Strategic analysis and development may play
ii. General Ignorance of Total Quality
a role in how the future organization strategy
Management Importance
is determined. During strategic development,
Generally, many organizations lack the
tools and techniques of strategic analysis and
efficacy of the TQM workings, due to lack
decision making are employed (Zikmundi,
of information, education, and enlightenment
1994). During this process, the intended
on the TQM concept and its working, the
strategy is converted into action by the
appreciation and implementation is zero
organization through communication,
(Mehra et al, 2001; Peter & Watermann,
providing agreed objectives and coordinating
1982).
resources by involving people. An
environmental scanning, during analysis is iii. Lackadaisical Attitude
important to understand the operating Many organizations, despite the fact that
environment of the organization (Lynch, they are aware of the TQM concepts, its
2009). This includes thoroughly scanning the workings and prospects are still lukewarm
customers, the suppliers, the competitors and and uninterested in appreciating and
the regulations in place for the particular implementing TQM. Some
industry. Other than the operating View this attribute to the tedious or
environment, the firm will also need to strenuous nature of the concept, while others
evaluate its own strengths and weaknesses as see it as having a high financial/cost
well as the threats and opportunities that the implication (Galgano, 1994).
firm has and will need to be put into iv. Lack of Finance
consideration during strategic planning Unavailability or inadequate finance to
(Haines, 2004; Porter, 1980). Proper analysis implement the Total Quality Management
and development will ensure a firm attains concept is a great factor militating against
305
The Yamane Formula The questionnaire used in this survey is
closed ended questionnaire; the
𝑁 questionnaire involved “Strongly Agree,
n= + N (e)2 Agree, Undecided, Disagree, Strongly
1 Disagree” structured dichotomy questions to
Where: facilitate analyzing the data collected from
the research. The Likert-Scale form of
n= sample size questionnaire was used in this study. In this
study the SPSS and (Cronbach’s alpha) was
N= population
employed.
e= margin of error (0.05)
Regre .000(a
1 18.173 1 18.173 71.239
ssion ) The coefficient table above shows the simple
Resid model that expresses how strategic
25.764 101 .255
ual management process assists organizations to
Total 43.937 102 improve Total Quality Management
a Predictors: (Constant), strategic management implementation. The model is shown
process mathematically as follows;
b Dependent Variable: Total quality management
Y = a + bx
implementation
where y is increase in Total Quality
The results from the model summary table Management implementation and x is
above revealed that the extent to which the strategic management process, a is a constant
factor and b is the value of coefficient. From
307
this table therefore, Management implementation the in
Organization. Thus, the decision would be to
reject the null hypothesis (H0), and accept
"𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
the alternative hypothesis (H1).
= 1.719
+ 0.558 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑐 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠" Table 9. Coefficients (b)
Unstanda Standa
This means that for every 100% change in rdized rdized
Total Quality Management implementation, Coefficie Coeffi Sig
strategic management process contributed nts cients T .
55.8% Std
Std. .
Mo Err Err
Hypotheses Two del B or Beta B or
Ho2 Planning and training method 1 (Constant) 3.43 9.8 .00
.348
does not improve Total Quality 2 56 0
Management Implementation PLANNING&TR
1.1 .24
Ha2 Planning and training method AININGMETHO .305 .089 .117
83 0
has improve Total Quality D
Management Implementation a Dependent Variable: totalqualitymgt implem
Table 7. Model Summary (b) The coefficient table above shows the simple
Std. model that expresses how appreciation
Adjusted Error of policy assists organizations to increase Total
R R the Quality Management Implementation. The
Model R Square Square Estimate model is shown mathematically as follows;
1 .117(a) .014 .004 .73914 Y = a + bx
a Predictors: (Constant), planning&trainingmeth where y is increase in Planning and training
Table 8. ANOVA (b) method and x is appreciation policy, a is a
Mean constant factor and b is the value of
Mo Sum of Squar coefficient. From this table therefore,
del Squares Df e F Sig.
1 Regressi 1.39 .001(a
on
.765 1 .765
9 ) 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Residual 55.180 101 .546 = 3.432
Total + 0.305 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔&𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑑
55.944 102
a Predictors: (Constant), planning&trainingmeth
b Dependent Variable: totalqualitymgtimplem This means that for every 100% change in
Total Quality Management Implementation,
Planning and training method contributed
The results from the model summary table 30.5%.
above revealed that the extent to which the
variance in work allowances can be
explained by Total Quality Management 4. Summary of Findings
Implementation is 14% i.e (R square = 0.14).
The ANOVA table shows the Fcal 1.399 at The results revealed that Strategic
0.0001 significance level. Planning and Management Process significantly affects
training method Implementation Total Quality Management implementation
significantly affects Total Quality and Planning and training method
309
5. Conclusion immeasurable. This study also concludes
that the challenges to the application of Total
Total Quality Management implementation Quality Management as a strategic tool in
can be mirrored to the Strategy functions by the telecom sector are remote. In addition, a
implementing the Total Quality Management majority of staff are aware of the general
principles when formulating and developing Total Quality Management principles, albeit
strategies, analyzing and implementing in a broad sense.
strategies and monitoring the Recommendations
implementation process. i. There should be adequate resources and
proper and adequate training on the
Following the above findings, this study importance of TQM which will improve
concludes that Total Quality Management strategy development and implementation.
has many practical applications in strategy ii.Management should encourage Mature
functions. If the Total Quality Management Total Quality Management-IT infrastructure,
principles are fully integrated into the appropriate risk and change management,
organizational functions and the Total and complacency and business process
Quality Management quality tools applied, redesign on strategic TQM which will
then the benefits to be borne are enhance the application of TQM.
immeasurable. This study also concludes iii.There must be relevant systems and
that the challenges to the application of Total institutional framework in the company,
Quality Management as a strategic tool in More so rewards and motivation for staff
the telecom sector are remote. In addition, a should be encouraged which will eradicate
majority of staff are aware of the general constraints in applying Total Quality
Total Quality Management principles, albeit Management as a strategic tool in the
in a broad sense. company.
iv.Total Quality Management principles
6. Conclusion should be fully integrated into the
organizational functions and Total Quality
Total Quality Management implementation Management quality tools applied which will
can be mirrored to the Strategy functions by make the benefits to be immeasurable
implementing the Total Quality Management
principles when formulating and developing Limitation of the Studies
strategies, analyzing and implementing a) The sample size of this study was
strategies and monitoring the determined based on the population of the
implementation process. employees of Globacom Telecom Nigeria
Following the above findings, this study PLC. Further studies should focus on larger
concludes that Total Quality Management and broad population.
has many practical applications in strategy b) The Sample Size for this research was
functions. If the Total Quality Management determined using Yamane formula. Using an
principles are fully integrated into the alternative method for the sample size
organizational functions and the Total determination may offer a different sample
Quality Management quality tools applied, size.
then the benefits to be borne are
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