Describing the Important Aspects of Applying TQM Initiatives in Organizations - Report Example

Abstract The number of companies in the construction industry that are taking part in the implementation of TQM is steadily increasing. Unlike many other industries, the construction industry has always hesitated to implement the various reforms of total quality management. However, in recent times, the construction industry has encouraged most of the companies to embrace the philosophy governing TQM in their organizational duties. This is due to the organizational success that other companies in different industries experience as a result of implementing TQM. The study on this report will discuss how TQM and project performance are related and how TQM impacts the success of a project. This report will begin by describing the important aspects of applying TQM initiatives for effective organizational success and its management. Further the report will critically evaluate and discuss the seven core steps of TQM. A comprehensive analysis of the TQM framework will be generated and applied to the current context of the case study. Introduction A poor implemented management strategy has forced most construction companies to deal with subsequent issues of fragmentation and instability. As a result, these companies experience lo production rates, poor performance and lack the correct standards to govern them. Kometa & Olomolaiye (1997) argue that the issue of quality in many construction companies, has led to the lack of high performance by employees thus leading to lack of customer satisfaction. Additionally, the process involved in manufacturing, production and supplies within a construction company is complex and somewhat fragmented. The introduction of Total Quality Management has proved to be a systematic approach that ensures a construction company is able to achieve its organizational goals by acting according to the set standards. Pheng and Wei (1996) affirm that the benefits associated with a good customer care system, improved quality production and an increase in market share is associated with a systematic implementation of TQM. Thus TQM is an aspect of management that mainly focuses on organizational growth and performance. TQM monitors an organizations activities to ensure that there is continuous improvements in an organizational as well as the ability of a company to offer superior and quality value to customers (Ahmed, 2008). The discussion in this essay will discuss how Wates Construction Company has successful managed to stay at the top of the construction industry through the implementation of TQM in its organizational performance. Wates Construction Company is among the leading companies in the construction industry in the UK. The company has enjoyed over 100 years of success in the construction industry. As a result the company credits its success to the strong family values that it has impacted in running and maintaining its organizational success. This has also contributed to its strong financial security and unique business approach strategies. In the current world market whereby the economy and business environment keep changing the reputation of a company is very important to enable it in achieving customer satisfaction as well as maintain a cost effective routine and constant improvement of the organization (Torbica and Stroh 1999). Thus in the case of Wates Company, the company has managed to use its financial strong holds and business approach to effectively secure a large market share in the UK. The company’s ability to adapt to the fast changing business environment and its position in the market, has ensured that Wates Company is committed to delivering projects that meet customer expectations. Additionally, this has also enabled the company to deliver projects that are 100% functional on completion and are able to assist it in achieving its organizational goals. Torbica & Stroh (1999) state that in a challenging and highly competitive business environment companies need to have a competitive advantage. Therefore in the construction industry, companies that are able to effectively manage their resources and acquire a solid position in the market, are in a better position to identify customer needs and wants and meet them on time. The current business environment requires that companies are able to identify themselves with top quality measures in managing their businesses and projects. Quality management has been identified as one of the core tools that are effective in facilitating organizational growth and company success in domestic and global markets (Ahmed & Torbica, 2003). Wates Construction Company has effectively maximized on this management aspect by ensuring that it delivers a project that is 100% operational and meets customer expectations (Wates Construction Company, 2016). Wates Construction Company has implemented a quality measure by effectively managing its resources through a strong financial system and through quality management of projects that it participates in. However, according to research, a number of construction companies fail to have an effective quality measure as they solely focus on financial measures as opposed to quality factors (Torbica & Stroh 1999). In its efforts to offer 100% operational and customers’ satisfactory projects, Wates Construction Company closely identifies with the importance of quality for the purpose of managing costs and improving performance. The company has implemented several programmes that it takes part in during the pre-construction procurement and final stages. These programmes are implemented to assist the company in continuous improvements through enhancing customer relationships and the services they offer in project delivery. Therefore quality is identified as a critical aspect of any project for construction companies. Waldman & Gopalakrishnan (1996) define quality as the capability of a construction company to manage its resources and meet customer expectations during the whole project process. Through the implementation of TQM in managing a project, quality ensures that a company is able to involve the customers during the entire process in project delivery. This means that a company’s main objective is to take responsibility of its performance and stay committed to surpassing customer expectations as well as attaining the highest level project performance (Saraph et al. 1989). Thus quality management standards is a statistical process that requires every participant of the project to stay motivated in delivering quality projects as well as achieve organizational objectives. Wates Construction Company, uses the various programs implemented during project delivery to ensure that it has suitable labour force with the necessary skills and are readily available to fulfil the requirements of a project. Wates Construction Company remains to be a national organization throughout the UK and is able to secure large contracts and tenders to deliver projects. As a result the company maintains well experienced labour force with enough resources at their disposal. Each of their offices in different parts of UK has a creative and innovative leader that takes part in coming up with different ways in which the company can deliver quality projects. According to research, the first quality tool of TQM is top management commitment. This refers to the leadership aspect of an organization (Al Sinan, 2004). Capable leadership is important for delivery of products and services by any company so as to satisfy a customer’s needs and wants. A sustainable leadership role dictates a system of executive commitment which ensures that the human resources is highly motivated and is committed to perform (Rosenfend, et al. 1992). Additionally, a capable leader ensures that his or her workforce closely works together to fulfil customer expectations while at the same time they are able to meet an organization’s objectives. With a steady financial security, Wates Company is able to employ the most experienced individuals to manage its workers and projects as well as steadily provide the required amount of financial aid and resources to complete a project. Ahmed & Torbica (2003) affirm that various companies have failed in the implementation of TQM due to the lack of a committed senior executive. Therefore having a capable leadership is very essential and ensures that construction companies such as Wates Company is able to promote team work, motivate its workforce and provide necessary resources to deliver quality projects and meet customer satisfaction. In the construction industry, a construction company is in a better positon to survive the various challenges associated with competition if it focuses on effectively responding to customer demands. Wates Company is a focused organization that has specialised in improving its performance through a knowledgeable and experienced team. The company has employed influential and knowledgeable experts to occupy a leadership role. These experts are able to identify and understand the changing trends in the market and industry and use the information gathered to respond to customer demands. According to Oakland & Marosszeky (2006) a construction company must have individuals that are creative and use new ideas and tools to deliver projects that are customer oriented. Nonetheless, a company’s inability to focus on customer demands despite the use of modern tools and management style, eventually leads to poor performance and a decrease in the market share. This means that if a company is unable to effectively satisfy customer demands it lacks a foundation to grow further or improve. Wates Construction Company prides its self to the strong foundations that it has established for the past 100 years in the industry. The reputation that the company has acquired over the years is as a result of its effectiveness to respond to customer demands and produce functional and operational structures. The ability of a company to commit to its customers enables it to invent and introduce new and superior designs in the industry. Having a distinct and unique project delivery technique is a form of competitive advantage for most construction companies. Product design, control and improvement is a certified way in which a company can identify its self to the market as well as relate to its customers (Arditi and Gunayadin, 1998). The nature of proactive partnership that Wates Company has maintained with its suppliers, customers and labour force, has enabled the company to be flexible and reliable. This form of partnership as managed by the company with its various stakeholders ensures the company is able to communicate with the relevant state officials for it to acquire the necessary documentations to complete a project. The company manages its system and quality performance by ensuring that new designs are reviewed before the actual project delivery. This ensure that the company saves on time, cost and resources so as to produce superior and unique designs that give consumers value for their money. Reviewing a new design before actual implementation is important as this assists a company to acquire a clarity of specification as well as a avoiding too much time that will be spent on constant redesigning of a project. The reviewing process of a new design at Wates Company entails constant consultation with the relevant stakeholders on the cost estimate, detail design, evaluation as well as design quality and management. Therefore the customers, executive manager and labourers all take part in this review process. Construction companies aim at delivering projects that are up to standard and operate effectively. For a company to achieve success in its projects it must be able to adhere to the state laws, commit to customer demands and focus on achieving its organizational goals. All these factors require an organization to participate in process management of a project. This means that a company is required to manage its construction site and ensure that there is enough financial aid, tools and resources for the workforce to perform effectively. Every aspect of a project must be to detail and the right specifications offered to the workers to avoid redesigning and waste of resources and time (Scheneider, 1994). Wates Construction Company uses the various programmes implemented during the project delivery process to ensure that a project remains in context all throughout. This company takes part in specific project activities such as planning, sequencing, analysis and innovative and creative ways on layout and use of materials. This is achieved through use of expertise in mobilization and execution of workers, equipment and resources for the completion of a project. As a result the company avoids the constant resilience in inspection, improves in performance and stays committed to customer wants. Managing time and resources are of key importance for any company in business. Thus, strategic quality management is mandatory for a company to achieve its objectives. Pheng and Teo (2004) argue that it is paramount for construction companies to include quality objectives during the planning and management process. During these processes, companies must ensure that an effective framework is planned and developed and is accompanied with clear instruction on how to approach, execute and evaluate the strategic concepts put in place. Wates Company has effectively implemented strategic quality management as a way of resource utilization. The company develops long term concepts to be followed that include core competencies which instruct the human resource of the company on how to adopt the use of modern technologies to come up with new and trendy designs. Additionally, the company’s experts are required to be knowledgeable about the current state of the construction industry, new market opportunities, business policies and challenges. The evaluation and analysis of the information gathered during market study allows Wates Company to be ahead of their competitors in learning about its customers, cutting costs and improve performance. Maintain an effective and functional human resource system is important for a company to function effectively. This means that each member of an organization understands their duties and position in a company and are able to communicate with each other. According to Waldman & Gopalakrishnan, (1996) for the workforce to have a clear understanding of what is expected of the and the current market state it is the role of an organization to educate them. This means that a company has to put in place a training activity that will inform and orient the workers of the company’s objectives and culture. Wates Construction Company has succeeded in retaining well experienced workforce over the years which is competent and committed in delivery of service. The company has achieved this by providing adequate knowledge and resources to its workers for them to have the necessary skills required to execute a project in different sectors. The ability of Wates Company to involve its workers in training and skill enhancement courses, enhances its workforce with the self-esteem to improve on their performance. The company encourages its workers to be creative and independent in performing their duties thus allowing them to bring in new ideas as they are encouraged to be problem solvers. The human resource at Wates is highly motivated to be accountable and take responsibility in their action and performance. Sinclair & Collins (1994) argue that these three concepts are generic concepts that add value to the organizational growth of a business. Conclusions The construction industry follows a distinct management structure as opposed to other industries such as the manufacturing industry. In project delivery, it is important that companies in the construction industry are able to implement the TQM framework in order to successfully execute its plans. Involving a comprehensive TQM framework allows a company to be successful in maintaining customer relations through customer satisfaction, improve performance and effectively utilize its resources and cut on costs. The effectiveness of TQM is when a company is able to successfully implement it in its operations so as to improve performance and meet customer needs. As a result a company is in a good position to acquire a competitive advantage in the market place. References Ahmed S. A. (2008). “total quality management in construction firms, Department of Construction Management, Florida: Florida International University, USA. Ahmed S.M & Torbica Z.M. (2003). 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