Information Technology and Total Quality Management - Coursework Example

Project Date: Time: Marks Student’s Name & ID / Student’s Name & ID / Student’s Name & ID / Student’s Name & ID / Student’s Name & ID / Course Name Operations Management Course Code BUS309 Semester Fall 2013 Instructor’s Name Dr Rim; Dr Khaled & Dr Mohamed Executive Summary Information Technology and Total Quality Management have considerably impacted on nearly all organizations and have been extensively researched. However, there exists a contradiction in studies regarding the relationship between the two, for the most part on the way in which Total Quality Management is influenced by Information Technology. This paper presents a review of such relationships. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 What is Total Quality Management and Information Technology? 5 Total Quality Management 5 Information Technology 6 Effect of Information Technology on Total Quality Management 6 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction Production companies and companies offering services are endlessly seeking to improve in trade performance by employing different techniques for getting better quality, trimming down costs and raising productivity. These measures comprise Total Quality Management, Business Process Re-engineering, Total Productive Maintenance, Just-in-Time, Manufacturing Resources Planning, and Self-Directed Work Teams. Empirical studies show that each and every one of these methods depend on information technology, in view of the fact that they operate as a response system to users interested in measuring productivity (Mjema et al. 2005). In addition, they besides provide a system to get a hold of express and more precise information, develop communication links, and smooth the progress of the execution of highly developed tools, structures along with modeling procedures. Information Technology’s value for companies is greater than ever and its influence on international trade is being extensively felt. Time and again, it has been pointed out that Information Technology is quickly turning out to be the central feature in perking up productivity and trimming down costs notwithstanding contradictory arguments from existing studies. Even if some studies point out that Information Technology had not had a considerable result on productivity or competitive advantage, there is empirical backing of a positive correlation stuck between programmable automation and productivity (Ang et al. 2000). Information Technology has progressed from a conventional secretarial back-office support course to a more tactical fundamental character in organizations. There is small hesitation that Information Technology applications have an effect on every one section and function of a company, for that reason, it is stated that Information Technology as well has got to impinge on Total Quality Management. This paper presents a review of the manner in which Total Quality Management is influenced by Information Technology. What is Total Quality Management and Information Technology? Total Quality Management The ever-increasing international business competitiveness has mandated companies to build up approaches to turn into low cost producers and to make different their goods and services from their trading rivals. Demining while in Japan, developed the concept of Total Quality which turned out to be a strong instrument of competitiveness. According to Magutu (2010), Total Quality Management progressed from a lot of dissimilar management practices and upgrading processes. Total Quality Management essentially entails the administration and control of quality all over a whole organization. Total Quality Management is a management move toward getting better organizational performance that covers a multiplicity of themes both procedural and behavioral. Different researches and authors have identified various dimensions of Total Quality Management but the key dimensions take account of: top management support, personnel management, employee involvement, customer rapport, supplier rapport, teamwork, product design process, quality assurance as well as process flow management. Total Quality Management generally lays emphasis on customer focus and satisfaction. Information Technology Information Technology can be described as whichever type of computer-based information classification that gives support to processing, compilation, and transmission of text, audio, along with pictographic information. Information Technology takes in two expansive areas: (1) Obtaining, setting up and organizing technology-based systems in business, government plus other organizations; and (2) Devising, developing and executing technology-based systems. Information Technology connects the opening linking the actual development of essential computer apparatus and the application of those tools (Ang et al. 2000). Effect of Information Technology on Total Quality Management The assessment of Information Technology’s ability to support Total Quality Management originates from the resources-based view of the firm. According to the resources-based view, for an organization to have a competitive advantage, it ought to acquire/build up wherewithal and capabilities that throw in positive performance, not enjoyed by all competing firms, and are not easy to emulate or copy. Rogers et al. (1996) conducted an empirical study on the link connecting the deployment of Information Technology and firm performance in the warehouse industry. They found out that Information Technology is important for quality performance. In 2000, Ang et al. designed a tool to gauge the effect of Information Technology on Total Quality Management, with the intention of identifying the way in which Information Technology wires Total Quality Management. These measures were tested and proved to be practically dependable and applicable. Mjema et al. (2005) brought these measures to play when analyzing several Total Quality Management dimensions in a processing industry in Tanzania. They too found out that the deployment of Information Technology on Total Quality Management contributed to a great extent to the improvement of quality consciousness in the enhancement of product quality as well as in the lessening of quality costs. Brah & Lim (2006) found that Total Quality Management along with Information Technology engages in key and complementing tasks in enhancing performance. Their study revealed that high technology firms perform considerably superior than low technology firms. Also, Information Technology engages a key function in the Total Quality Management scheme through planning, workforce, and expertise areas. Mjema et al. (2005) state that Information Technology is more and more being engaged in assessing, understanding, and developing an organization’s level of long-standing quality. Undoubtedly, Information Technology is able to assist in making easy the use of statistical process running, experimental designs, failure mode plus effects investigation, and quality function operation along with self evaluation alongside a model for business excellence. Information Technology is capable of facilitating the development of synchronized collection of data regarding customer contentment, internal process controls, decisive business systems, plus other measurement systems required to sustain Total Quality Management. Konstadt (1990) declares that refined communications and computational equipment and data storage systems are central to achieving Total Quality Management. Moreover, he states that Information Technology can smooth the progress of uninterrupted perfection, even under the traditional fundamental processes and management employee involvement. On the other hand, it is alleged that Total Quality Management may well enhance the introduction of Information Technology. Ayer (1993) argues that applying the principles and practices of Total Quality Management to the appliance of Information Technology guarantees a slowdown of uneconomical outlay in technology. According to Ang et al. (2000), companies that apply Total Quality Management make out a superior bang of Information Technology on their Total Quality Management dimensions. In view of that, Information Technology supports Total Quality Management. Additionally, Information Technology along with Total Quality Management execution levels are absolutely interconnected, implying that there are parallel attributes that push companies to put into practice Information Technology and Total Quality Management. For instance, this could be attributed to the quality-oriented human resources fundamentals (labor force management and worker attitudes and behavior) for the reason that: (1) Today’s dealing environment necessitates managers to employ highly developed technologies and management systems; and (2) More competent employees have the basic skills to apply Information Technology and to capitalize on Total Quality Management. Conclusion Information Technology plays a central role in the application of Total Quality Management in an organization. The link connecting Information Technology and Total Quality Management is for the most part affirmative, given that Information Technology is able to smooth the progress of Total Quality Management. Empirical studies prove the task of Information Technology in enabling the execution of Total Quality Management. Information Technology engages a key function in transforming work processes so as to get better product quality and productivity (Brah & Lim, 2006). One is able to without difficulty make out the critical position which Information Technology has in putting Total Quality Management into operation. References Ang, C. L. Davies, M. and Finlay, P. N. 2000. Measures to assess the impact of information technology on quality management. International Journal of Quality &Reliability Management, 17: 42 – 66. Ayers, J. B. 1993. Total quality management and information technology: partners for profit. Information Strategy, The Executive Journal, 9: 6-31. Brah, S.A. and Lim, H. Y. 2006. The effects of technology and TQM on the performance of logistics companies. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39: 192 – 209. Konstadt, P. 1990. The unending quest for quality. CIO, 3(11): 83-85. Magutu, 2010. Management Through Effective Information Quality Management (IQM) in banking services. AIBUMA, 1: 96-111. Mjema, E. A. M., Victor M. A. M. and Mwinuka, M. S. M. 2005. Analysis of roles of IT on quality management. The TQM Magazine, 17: 364-75. Rogers, D. S., Daughtery, P. J. and Ellinger, A. E. 1996. The relationship between information technology and warehousing performance. Logistics and Transportation Review, 32: 404-421. Read More