Al-Sinan, M A (2004) TQM and the construction industry: Saudi Arabia: a case study. PhD thesis, City, University of London, UK.
Abstract
The objective of this thesis is to investigate Total Quality Management (TQM) as a means of making the Saudi construction industry more efficient. The thesis also examines the effect of TQM on industry in general. Although TQM is a management concept that has been implemented in many industries effectively and with encouraging results, adopting TQM in the construction industry is more challenging due to its unique characteristics. The research has examined the compliance of the Saudi contractors and design offices with the principles of TQM qualitatively through personal interviews, and quantitatively through a mailing questionnaire. The objective of this part of the thesis is to determine the levels of industry compliance with the principles of TQM, and to detect the potential obstacles to compliance. In addition, this thesis has examined the effectiveness of TQM implementation in the Saudi construction industry. A case study of TQM implementation in one of the largest project owners (client) in Saudi Arabia has been reported and analysed. In addition, the findings of interviews with contracting companies, to determine the effectiveness of TQM as a solution to the problems of the Saudi construction industry, have been reported and discussed. Furthermore, practical TQM implementation experience in a small construction firm has been reported to augment the findings of other sources, namely the personal interviews and the questionnaire. The interviews with the contractors identified the major problems of the Saudi construction industry, which have been reported in this research. These problems have been further investigated in order to determine their significance through the mailing of a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire have been reported and analysed in this study. The thesis has discussed those problems that have been identified statistically as significant (major) problems, and proposed solutions to them.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; client; contracting; effectiveness; interview; owner; quality management; Saudi Arabia; total quality management |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, compliance, total quality management, interview, effectiveness, implementation, quality management, construction industry, Saudi Arabia, case study, owner, small construction firm |
| Subjects: | sociology, quality assurance, industry analysis, performance management, Geography, health safety and environment, evaluation methods, contractual arrangements, organization, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Procurement, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Quality Management, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here