Fahid, S (2007) An investigation of the effectiveness of total quality management in the UK construction industry: An empirical study. PhD thesis, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Abstract
This study examines the application of TQM within the UK construction industry. A review of the literature on TQM and exploratory research within the industry verified the need for research into this area. Through the study, the attitudes of individuals within companies are examined in order to establish current trends towards implementation of Total Quality Management. The primary sources of data were derived from the literature search. Phase one of the study involved data collection from 92 construction companies experienced in Quality Management or Total Quality Management implementation. Exploratory field work was undertaken to determine levels of adaptations and the relevance and importance given to TQM in current strategic thinking. Data gathering techniques included a postal questionnaire and an analysis of company financial reporting. Analysis of the data led to the development of further research instruments to analyse and measure TQM and performance. Six organisations were subsequently selected and assessed involving an in-depth case study. The principle findings from the case studies were then validated by further survey, which involved a larger representative sample. The research indicated that TQM is not yet well established as an overall philosophy within the construction industry in the UK. The leading organisations have three to five years' experience of implementation and are assessed as low to medium adapters when measured against the European Quality Award Model. Some evidence was found to show that the leading organisations in TQM had achieved improved performance against the industry. The results also show, however, that a high proportion of TQM initiatives fail to deliver expected benefits. The reasons for these differences are examined and best practice identified. Finally, the study shows, implementation is seen as a continuous process of improvement involving 4 essential stages - diagnosis, implementation, measurement and review. Appropriate tools, methods and best practices developed from the research are recommended for addressing each stage. Information was obtained on the research areas through the use of the following methods: 1. Consultation with quality practitioners and a review of the quality management literature. 2. Questionnaires investigating the quality management practices of over 92 companies (including 11 companies which had implemented TQM). 3. Structured interviews investigating the methods of TQM implementation at 6 leading TQM construction organisations. The framework was designed as a stand-alone document to be used by quality practitioners, the management board of the organisations implementing TQM and quality management researchers in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | best practice; improvement; performance; total quality management; case study; interview; UK |
| Index terms: | quality management practice, questionnaire, evidence, financial reporting, practitioner, philosophy, construction company, survey, interview, total quality management, implementation, quality management, construction industry, empirical study, best practice, exploratory research, investigation, effectiveness, adaptation, construction organization, case study |
| Subjects: | evaluation methods, financial and cost management, contractual arrangements, practitioner, organization, user focus, business, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, quality assurance, philosophical studies, industry analysis, performance management, research methods, management |
| Topics: | Procurement, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice, Design Practice |
| 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