To implement Total Quality Management concepts successfully, colleges and universities must change their cultures significantly. In higher education, with its organizational characteristics and traditions, authority relationships between faculty and administrators must be recognized, and some changes in the role and attention of leaders must…

Experience at Rio Salado Community College (Arizona) has shown that an administrative issue should be examined first to determine whether application of the continuous improvement process is an appropriate use of resources. Areas truly in need of significant improvement should have priority. (MSE)

Institutional researchers and planners can play a key role in the application of Total Quality Management (TMQ) to institutional processes by exciting others about TMQ, exploring with others the possibilities of TMQ, clarifying the principles through application, and crystallizing the benefits through action. (Author/MSE)

Oregon State University implemented Total Quality Management in nine phases: exploration; establishing a pilot study team; defining customer needs; adopting the breakthrough planning process; performing breakthrough planning in divisions; forming daily management teams; initiating cross-functional pilot projects; implementing cross-functional…

A question and answer form addresses the experience of Samford University (Alabama) in implementing Total Quality Management and examine the process and results of changing institutional culture. The experience illustrates how important preparation is and how profound the required changes may be. (MSE)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University undertook a comprehensive organizational development analysis to identify the cultural facilitators and barriers to change and the professional development needs of managers. The results suggested a comprehensive leadership development plan to create a climate for implementation of Total Quality…

Total Quality Management methods can build on conventional performance indicators to enhance their usefulness in monitoring and improving quality and effectiveness in higher education institutions. Experience with these methods at colleges and universities, particularly in several academic and administrative areas at Pennsylvania State University,…

Hoshin, or breakthrough, planning is the Total Quality Management method of integrating strategic planning into the daily work of organizational units. Delaware County (Pennsylvania) Community College's adaptation of the process and its use in daily management are described and presented in the form of a flow chart. (MSE)

At Fox Valley Technical College (Wisconsin), application of Total Quality Management (TQM) brought positive outcomes and other effects. Areas in which TQM was used are considered, including admissions, employee safety, customer focus, policy formation, management performance appraisal, student services, creation of a self-managing class, TQM for…