Education delivers concepts and principles to students over their course of study and positively impacts their personal development. This research explores student perceptions of the influence of a Total Quality Management (TQM) course on their attitudes toward various aspects of everyday life. The critical contribution of this paper is that it…

Business subjects in higher education are critical for solving today's global business challenges, but the curricula of such subjects must be designed with a focus on constructive alignment. This study aimed to introduce the application of constructive alignment in business subjects. The study provides a lens for understanding the various…

Due to the rapid changes in technology, there have been dramatic changes in manufacturing systems and techniques in almost all industries. In this sense, higher education institutions have become more important as they play a key role in ensuring the labor force in the industry. In the present study, the research streams for operations management…

The authors investigated the effects of flow on learning outcomes in a graduate-level operations management course. Flow was assessed through an overall flow score, four dimensions of flow, and three characteristics of flow activities. Learning outcomes were measured objectively through multiple-choice quiz scores and subjectively using measures…

Instructors face enormous challenges in presenting effective instruction on concepts and tools of quality management. Most textbooks focus on presenting individual concepts or tools and fail to address complex issues confronted in real-world problem-solving situations. The supplementary use of cases does not help students to understand the dynamic…

A survey of U.S. business school deans (n=117) examined organizational, faculty development, and curricular changes business schools have made as a result of the total quality management movement. Results indicate that a few business schools have moved forward rapidly but the vast majority are in a wait-and-see, exploratory, or experimental mode.…

Business students interviewed managers in 94 companies, 52 of which were involved in total quality management (TQM). Those not using TQM cited no perceived benefits or small company size. They were less likely to provide training in group process, empower employees to make quality improvements, or employ cross-functional teams. (SK)

Surveys of business school deans in 1995 (n=243) and 1998 (n=151) regarding total quality management (TQM) practices revealed increases in mission and strategy development, goal setting, and use of advisory boards and cross-functional teams. Few are using TQM to manage core learning processes. (SK)

Responses from 318 of 1,000 management faculty indicate that only 11% have a plan to apply total quality management (TQM) principles to course delivery, although 61% report teaching them. Three-fourths cited difficulty in measuring the effectiveness of TQM improvements as an obstacle to application. (SK)

In this article, the authors discuss the need for integrative, multidisciplinary courses in value creation. They describe the design and implementation of courses in 2 different schools at the master of business administration (MBA) and undergraduate levels. Both courses involved schematic models in the teaching methodologies, but each emphasized…

A literature review classified four streams on total quality management (TQM) in education: (1) definition and measurement; (2) normative studies; (3) conceptual models; and (4) implementation and assessment. Phases of TQM implementation were identified: awareness and commitment, planning, program implementation, and evaluation; future directions…

In two undergraduate business courses, students in instructor-assigned multidisciplinary teams analyzed organizational processes. The project emphasized cooperative learning, the interdisciplinary nature of work, and teamwork, with a total quality management foundation. Common rewards and resource dependence fostered positive interdependence. (SK)

Responses from 390 business school alumni (60%) show that students want educators to consider their opinions about their overall educational experience and what happens after graduation. A total quality management approach can help discover customer/student needs, establish a focus on improvement, and implement a process orientation. (SK)

Analyzes the criteria for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in business as a way to teach total quality management. Core concepts and values are outlined: customer-driven quality, leadership, continuous improvement, employee participation/development, fast response, design quality/prevention, long-range outlook, management by fact,…

Examines the application of total quality management to higher education and gives examples of effective faculty-administrator collaborative efforts. Depicts a process of creating a new culture for change. (SK)