PROJECT REPORT ON TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT CONCEPTUALIZATION

This is Total Quality Management Project Report. Human resource is the most important factor for any organization and success of any Organization is depending upon its resource .If human resource of organization is not happy with the organization. It will adversely affect the organization. The higher degree of commitment toward work will improve productivity and will decrease rejection cause due to human factor. So to make the people happy is the responsibility of the organization. So this study is helpful to measure the level of commitment toward work and to know the factor affecting the commitment level .

QUALITY:1. Quality means fit ness for use. 2. Quality means productivity, competitive cost, and timely delivery, total customer satisfaction. 3. Quality means conformance to specification and standard. 4. Conformance to requirements. 5. Quality is what the customer says 6. Quality means getting every one to do what they have agreed to do and to do it right the first time and every time.

TOTAL QUALITY :It means all the people of the organization are committed to product quality by doing right things right, first time, every time by employing organization resource to provide value to customer.

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT: It is the process designed to focus external/internal customer expectation preventing problems building ,commitment to quality in the workforce and promoting to open decision making.

TOTAL:
Every one associated with the company is involved in continuous improvement, in all functional area, at all level.

QUALITY:
Customer express and implied requirement is met fully.

MANAGEMENT:
Executive are fully committed Decision in a planned way. To maintain existing lever of quality. To improve existing lever of quality. Effective utilization of resource.

PRINCIPLES OF TQM:1.Delight the customer 2. Management by fact 3. People based management 4. Continuous improvement 5. Strong leadership 6. Quality system measure& record 7. Team work, Team accountable, correct problem 8. People oriented technology, speed.

FOUR CS OF TQM
1. Commitment 3. Communication 2. Comptence 4. Continuous improvement

FACTOR AFFECTED THE COMMITMENT OF THE EMPLOYEES:General worker attitude toward the company. General worker attitude toward the supervisor. Lever of satisfaction toward job standard. The lever of consideration the supervisor shows to his subordination. The workload & work pressure level. The treatment of individual by the management The lever of workers satisfaction with the salaries

The level of worker pride in the company and its activity Worker reaction to the formal communication network in the organization. Intrinsic job satisfaction level of the worker. Worker attitude toward the fellow worker.

OPERATIONALISATION OF THE CONCEPT:I have studied on impact of employees commitment toward. I have explained earlier. In the company, they already have implemented TQM so through this study, I measured the degree of implementation in the organization and what are the factor that are affected the commitment lever and to check how much they are satisfaction with the TQM implement. For this purpose, I have made the questionnaire which consisting of multiple-choice questions. I have collected the data from them and after that I have tabulated them and interpreted them and give the recommendation.

Focus of the problem:

The main emphasis will be on to find out quality employees commitment toward their work as a result total quality implementation.

Review of Existing literature:

Many people have work on this topic. They sum up various finding. They found that apply TQM has directly increased their morale; increase the satisfaction lever and commitment toward their work. These are the finding of various researchers. Several articles have been published in different journals , magazines and newspaper such as HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,VIKALPA etc. But the effect of TQM on employees commitment in the company has so far not undertaken. This project has been done first time in the company.

LIMITATION
~Employees of the organization may hide the fact. ~The management did not agree to disclose all the confidential data. ~Number of respondents are very less, so clear conclusion cant be drawn.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:The objectives of this study are:

1.To find the degree of TQM implemented in the organization. 2.To study the level of commitment of employees toward their work. 3. To find out factor influencing the commitment.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is a way to solve the research problem in a systematic manner. It may understand as a science of studying how the research is done significantly. The methodology may differ from problem to problem, yet the basic approach towards the research remains the same. The sequence or steps followed have been explained as under:

UNIVERSE AND SURVAY POPULATION

The universe is the employee working at mill. I have selected 100 employee 40 FROM THE STAFF,60 FROM THE WORKER for the survey.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This research is of EXPLORATARY RESEARCH DESIGN .I have used the questionnaire method for collecting the data.

ANALYSIS PATTERN Data collection:

This data is primary data, which I have been collected with the help of questionnaire. I have prepared a questionnaire on the basis of the factors responsible for employees commitment in the organization.

MACRO ANALYSIS (Inferences &Interpretation)

The detailed analyses of the results are explained below: MOST OF EMPLOYEES FEELS THAT: Most of the staff member and worker feel that organization is quality conscious toward the employees. This also increases their commitment toward the work and toward the organization. Some of the employees feel that thy have proper information about the policies, practices followed in the organization. But some of employees feel that there is no proper communication. Most of the facts related with the organization are hided by the management from the employees. Most of the employees feel that they dont get rewarded for their good performance. Most of the staffs member feel that their performance is properly measured in the organization.

RECCOMENDATIONS
The suggestions I have given for the betterment are explained below:

 It is very important to provide the opportunity to the employees of the organization to express their ideas or whatever they want to express. Management should clear their vision mission and goals towards the employees in the organization. Management should involve the workers representatives in managerial activities so that the transparency could be maintained and through this they can win the confidence of the employees. Management should give due importance to mental relaxation &social cultural development of an employees who strives hard for the company. Reward or Praise/appreciation works as magic for an individual and motivates them for work. Role clarity of each position should be defined and based on that individuals can plan their work accordingly. Self-potential system should be encouraged. There are regular review and comparison of current & past performance to detect gradual deterioration in the strategy. Proper cooperation should be necessary in the company.

NOTE: THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS PURELY FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES. ALL THE INFORMATION PROVIDED WOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
Do you think the organization is quality conscious toward employees? YES NO

Does the organization have the certification of ISO 9000? YES NO

Is the organization providing quality assurance system & operation? YES NO

Does the organization have quality circle? YES NO

How many people are involved in quality circle? Below 10 above 10 above 15 cant say

How frequently the organizations have the meeting of quality circle? Weekly biweekly monthly yearly

Do you about the agenda of information or any other information? YES NO

Are the organization is going for the quality audit? YES NO cant say

Does your organization have quality information system? YES NO cant say

Are the information system is regularly updated? YES NO cant say

Do you think the organization used bench marking, if any, please tell me the name of the benchmark organization? YES If yes, then Org. a. b. Area NO cant say

Does the organization is going for the brain storming session? YES NO dontknow

Are you practicing the 5s Japanese philosophy ? YES NO

Does the organization have the certification of ISO 14000 or any other, if any please mention? YES NO dontknow

Are you practicing the six sigma for the error control? YES NO dontknow

A formal career planning process exist in the organization Strongly Agree Dont know Agree Strongly disagree Disagree

There is a shared vision of where your business is growing? Strongly Agree Dont know Agree Strongly disagree Disagree

Employees are kept updated with changes in job skills & job designs? Strongly Agree Dont know Agree Strongly disagree Disagree

Formal or informal method is followed for employees feedback and acting on that feedback? Strongly Agree Dont know Agree Strongly disagree Disagree

Does the organization provide right environment to apply your knowledge from new programs to the job? Very much Some whatLittle

Not at all Do you feel that the organization is a good place to Yes No Sometimes work?

Do you feel comfortable with rules and policy of the organization? Yes No Sometimes

What types of relations are you having with your superior, peers and subordinates? Good If bad then why it is so? They are not cooperating. Their behavior is not good There is no proper communication. All above Do you feel that you can get ahead in the org. if you make an effort? Yes No Sometimes Average Poor

Do you get any reward on your good performance? Yes No Sometimes

Do you find that your performance is properly measured in the organization? Yes No Sometimes

Do you find that your job makes the best use of your abilities? Yes No Some Times

Thank you for your kind co-operation.

OBJECTIVE WISE ANALYSIS (Micro Analysis)

The analysis according to the objectives are explained below:

Do you think that this organization is QUALITY conscious toward employees? A. Yes B. No Staff % 87 13 Workers % 65 25

A B

This shows that about 87% staff and 65% worker agreed that organization is quality conscious toward employees.

Does the organization have the certification of ISO 9000? A. Yes B. No Staff % 100 0 Worker % 67 33

A. B.

This shows that 100% staff and 70% worker said that the organization have the certification of ISO 9000.

Is the organization provide quality assurance system& operation A. Yes B. No Staff % 80 20 Worker % 58 42

A. B.

This shows that 80% staff& app.65% worker think that organization providing quality assurance system &operation.

Does the organization have the quality circle? A. Yes B. No Staff % 87 13 Worker % 46 54

A. B.

It shows that app.90% staff & 46% worker agreed with the statement . 54% workers said they dont know about this.

How many people are involved in the quality circle? A. Below 10 C. Above 15 B.Above 10 D. Cant say

A. B. C. D.

Staff % 22 54 14 10

Worker% 36 28 22 14

It shows that about 54% staff says there are above 10 member in the quality circle. How frequently the organization have the meeting of quality circle ?

A. Weekly C. Monthly

B. Biweekly D. Yearly Staff % 17 57 26 0 Worker% 35 42 23 0

A. B. C. D.

It shows that app.60 % staff & 42% worker says organization have the biweekly meeting of quality circle.

Do you know about the agenda of information or any other information? A. Yes B. No Staff % 60 40 Worker % 14 86

A. B.

Above graph shows that 60% staff say that they know about the agenda of the information but 86% worker say they dont know about this.

Are the organization s going for the quality audit? A. Yes B. No C. Cant say Staff % 85 10 5 Worker % 26 24 50

A. B. C

Above shows that 85% staff &26% worker says that organization is going for quality audit but 50% worker says they dont know about the quality audit.

Does the organization s have quality information system? A. Yes B. No C. Cant say Staff % 95 0 5 Worker % 15 31 54

A. B. C

Above shows that 95% staff says that organization have quality information system &54 % worker says they dont know about this.

Are the information system is regularly updated? A. Yes B. No C. Cant say Staff % 69 11 20 Worker % 55 11 34

A. B. C

About 70 % staff & 55% worker says that organization regularly updated.

Do you think the organization s used benchmarking? D. Yes E. No F. Cant say Staff % 30 25 45 Worker % 8 0 92

A. B. C

This shows that 95%staff says that organization have quality information system but 54% worker say they dont know about this.

Does the organization s is going for brain storming session? A. Yes

B. No C. Dont know Staff % 70 13 17 Worker % 3 0 97

A. B. C

Above table shows that 70%staff agreed with the statement.but 97% worker say they dont know about this.

Are the organization is practicing the 5s Japanese philosophy? A. Yes B. No Staff % 90 10 Worker % 26 74

A. B.

It shows that about the 90% staff and 26% worker says they are practicing this but 74% workers dont know about this.

Does the organization has the certification of ISO 14000 ? A. Yes B. No C. Dont know

A. B. C

Staff % 100 0 0

Worker % 53 16 31

It shows that all of the respondent of staff & most of the worker category says that organization have ISO 14000.

A formal planning process exist in the organization? A. Strongly agree B. Strongly disagree C. Dont know D. Agree E. Disagree Staff % 18 12 20 30 20 Workers % 7 30 46 7 10

A B C D E

It shows that about 50% of the respondent are agree with the statement but in worker category most of them are either disagree or dont know.

There is a shared vision of where the business is growing? A. Strongly agree B. Strongly disagree C. Dont know D. Agree E. Disagree Staff % 22 5 25 45 3 Workers % 7 13 40 13 27

A B C D E

It shows that about 50% staff of the respondent are agree with the statement but in worker category app.60% disagree with the statement. Employees are keep updating with change in the job skill & job design? A. Strongly agree B. Strongly disagree C. Dont know D. Agree E. Disagree Staff % 10 5 10 Workers % 3 15 13

A B C

D E

55 20

45 24

It shows that app. 70% respondents are agree with the statement . Formal& informal method is followed for employees feedback & acting on that feedback? A. Strongly agree D.Agree B. Strongly disagree C. Dont know E. Disagree

A B C D E

Staff % 15 5 0 70 10

Workers % 2 21 7 40 30

Above table shows that app. 80% respondents of the staff and 45% from worker said that there are proper feedback system. are agree with the statement . Does the organization provide right environment to apply knowledge from new programs to the job? A. Strongly agree B.Strongly disagree C. Dont know D. Agree E. Disagree

A B C

Staff % 5 75 10

Workers % 5 28 13

D 7 46 E 3 8 Above table shows that 75% staff and 50% from worker said that organization provide the right environment to apply knowledge to the job Proper feedback system. are agree with the statement . Do you feel that this organization is a good place to work?

A. Yes B. No C. Cant say Staff % 80 5 15 Workers % 58 36 8

A B C

It shows that 80% staff&58% worker agreed with the statement.

Do you feel comfortable with the rules and policies of the organization? A. Yes B. No C. Some times Staff % 55 20 Worker % 47 40

A. B.

C.

25

13

It shows that the employees of the staff category are more satisfied with the rules and policies of the organization then employees from the workers category. What type of relations are you having with your superiors, peers and subordinates? A. Good B. Average C. Poor Staff 90 10 0 Workers 34 50 16

A. B. C.

It shows that most of the employees from the staff category are having good relationships with their superiors. But most of the workers are having only satisfactory relationships. If bad, then why it is so? A. They are not co-operating with you B. There behavior is not good C. There is not proper communication. D. All of the above Workers

A. B. C. D.

10 27 18 45

It shows that most of the worker take misbehaviour from their superior.

Do you feel that you can get ahead in the organization if you make efforts? A. Yes B. No C. Sometimes Staff 45 25 30 Workers 24 72 4

A. B. C.

This shows that most of the workers feels that they cant get ahead in the organization if they work hard but the attitude of employees of staff is just opposite.

Do you get reward on your good performance? A. Yes B. No C. Sometimes Staff % 30 65 5 Workers % 22 68 10

A. B. C.

This shows that most of the staff members or workers have not get reward in the organization on their good performance.

Do you feel that your performance is measured properly in the organization? A. Yes B. No C. Sometimes Staff % 45 40 15 Workers % 26 67 7

A. B. C.

Most of the staff members thinks that their performance is properly measured in the organization but the workers feels just opposite of it

Do you find that your job makes the best use of your abilities? (For Managers) A. Yes B. No C. Sometimes Staff 55 30 15

A. B. C.

It shows that most of the staff members are feels that their job makes the best use of their abilities.

Introduction Oakland (1989) argues that TQM needs to gain ground rapidly and become a way of life in many organizations (p. 15). However, Total Quality Management (TQM) cannot become a way of life in organizations immediately. Time is needed in order to integrate the appropriate quality principles and techniques into the culture of the organization (Goetsch & Davis, 1994). Time, however, is not the only resource that TQM requires. Human resources are equally important for TQM success. Therefore, it could be said that peoples awareness of quality is central to TQMs purpose. For Crosby (1984), quality awareness is not just promoting quality within an organization, but it is also spreading information around. He also points out that quality awareness extends to the way in which managers act and talk about quality. Thus, quality awareness begins from management and spreads throughout the entire organization. Nevertheless, research evidence (Morgan & Murgatroyd, 1997) has shown that quality awareness is sometimes limited. Moreover, quality messages can be interpreted differently by managers working in different national business contexts. How can TQM become a way of life within an organization when managers are not really aware of it? Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which managers in a specific national context are aware of the TQM approach. 41 The
Qualitative Report March 2007

This article presents the results of a qualitative study that was carried out in the Greek service industry. It draws on eighteen (18) interviews that were conducted with managers working in the specific industry. The purpose for using qualitative techniques was to dig beneath the quantitative data of the study, examining the meaning that respondents gave to the concepts of TQM, and their views of its links with wider individual and organizational processes. Also, the qualitative research gives more evidence towards Greek managers understanding of the soft side of TQM. The significance of this side of TQM to the Greek service industry is associated with two main reasons. Firstly, the majority of Greek service organizations concentrate in adopting hard management practices and systems towards their willingness to improve quality (Vouzas, 1997, 2004). A prime example is the wide adoption of ISO 9000 systems. Moreover, this is linked to the second reason of the significance of the soft aspect of TQM, which is the critique that TQM is accepted by many authors and management thinkers. This critique is very well-represented by a group of literature that is called the Contingency approach to TQM (Psychogios, 2005). This approach sees TQM from a more pragmatic point of view rather than arguing that TQM is either an ideal management model with universal application (Goetsch & Davis, 1994; Oakland, 1989) or a new and sophisticated method for work intensification/exploitation (Braverman, 1974; Delbridge, Turnbull, & Wilkinson, 1992; Sewell & Wilkinson, 1992). The contingency approach suggests that TQMs implementation and its impact depend on the ability of organizations to adopt and apply its soft concepts and ideas (Psychogios). In other words, this approach does not see TQM negatively or positively, rather its view depends on several individual, organizational, and national contexts. In this respect, the major argument of the article is that although the acronym of TQM and some of its concepts and practices are known by our interviewees, actual awareness of its soft side is often superficial and people have a relatively poor understanding of it. Managers tend to see TQM from a technical point of view, being aware only of the importance of its hard aspects. This paper is organized in six sections. The first section of this paper examines the meaning of TQM. The second and the third sections analyze the soft and hard sides of TQM in more depth. The fourth part summarizes the literature on managers awareness towards TQM approach. The next section describes the methodology used in the present study. The fifth section analytically presents and discusses the findings, whilst the final section comes up with major conclusions concerning the application of TQM in the Greek service industry. The Meaning of TQM A baseline technical definition of what TQM is all about has been given by the American Federal Office of Management Budget Circular (cited in Milakovich, 1990, p. 209), TQM is a total organizational approach for meeting customer needs and expectations that involves all managers and employees in using quantitative methods to improve continuously the organisations processes, products and services. Alexandros G. Psychogios and Constantinos-Vasilios
Priporas 42

In addition, the American Federal Office of Management (cited in Morgan & Murgatroyd, 1997) defines TQM as, a total organizational approach for meeting customer needs and expectations that involves all managers and employees in using quantitative methods to improve continuously the organizations processes, products, and services. (p. 7) According to the latter definition TQM is not merely a technical system. In fact, TQM is associated with the organisation itself, which is also a social system. Pike and Barnes (1996) argue that organizations are not only technical systems, but also human systems. In addition, Oakland (1993) states that TQM is an attempt to improve the whole organisations competitiveness, effectiveness, and structure. For Dale (1999), TQM is the mutual co-operation of everyone in an organisation and associated business processes to produce products and services, which meet and, hopefully, exceed the needs and expectations of customers. TQM is both a philosophy and a set of management guiding principles for managing an organisation. (p. 9) From the above definitions, we can identify two important aspects that comprise TQM: management tools and techniques as well as management concepts and principles. The techniques refer to what has been referred to as the hard aspects of TQM, while the principles refer to the soft side. The Hard Side of TQM Deming (1986) has stated that in God we trust - all others must use data. This statement emphasizes the importance of management techniques, tools, and systems that compose the hard side of TQM. Using the definition given by Goetsch and Davis (1994) management tools are means of collecting and displaying information in ways to help the human brain grasp thoughts and ideas that, when applied to physical processes, cause the processes to yield better results (p. 382). The quality management literature provides a wide range of quality management tools, techniques, and systems. Some of them are quite simple, while others are more complex. Table 1 shows the hard aspects of TQM most commonly found in Quality Management Literature. 43 The Qualitative Report March 2007

Table 1 Hard TQM Practices Identified in Quality Management Literature TQM Techniques, tools and systems Statistical Process Control ISO 9000 series Pareto Analysis Matrix Diagram Histograms Tree Decision Diagram Critical Path Analysis Fishbone or Ishakawa Diagram

THE FIVE DIMENTIONS OF TQM ON PROJECTS

G. Basson
1

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract The paper addresses the development of a model for reciprocal relationships inside and between independent parties participating towards a common objective. The principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) are considered and five dimensions of application are distinguished. These dimensions are horizontally from the contractor to the external client, vertically upwards inside the contracting party, vertical downwards inside the contracting party, horizontally inside the contracting party and horizontally from the client to the external contractor, respectively. In each dimension, every party or individual considers the other as its client in respect of services and relationships based on the principles of TQM. This model is then superimposed on the delivery of services and the management of relationships inside, as well as between businesses in a commercial context or as parties on a project. Keywords: total, quality, management, project, dimensions, relationships, services Introduction Very few businesses, if any, operate in an isolated vacuum, most operate through a proactive interplay with the environment. Similarly, very few are absolutely self-sufficient in providing their services or products to external clients or customers. The latter process, to a lesser or larger degree, entails collaboration with other companies, being it only as suppliers of supporting items or intimate participation to reach the fina l result. In all cases where services or products are delivered through a combined effort by independent legal entities or are supplied on a one-to-one basis to single clients, relationships and the management thereof are of paramount importance towards the achievement of a mutually satisfactory final outcome.

Similar circumstances apply to the planning and execution of projects. In the case of projects, especially construction projects, the multiplicity of entities involved is even more pronounced. This increases the demand for and importance of any technique or methodology which enhance s coop eration between parties partaking as members of the team. The major differences between business and project environments are the long versus short term characteristics of their operations, respectively, rendering the application of any system to its full extent infinitely more difficult in the case of projects due to the time constraint. It is against this background that a model for relationships between participating entities is developed by extending the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM). This model should be suitable for application to collaborating companies in either a business or project context. The application to projects would be more opportune due to the multiplicity of stakeholders, but also more difficult due to their short durations.

Overview of TQM The theory of Total Quality Management (TQM) is well-developed, well-known and wellentrenched in its application inside and between various types of companies. Only a brief overview will thus be included to serve as a reference to the extension thereof, the latter being the real objective of the paper. TQM can be considered as the mature stage of quality management. TQM is a culture that requires a total commitment to customer satisfaction through continuous improvement and innovation in all aspects of business [4]. It is reached when a culture of quality is established and becomes entrenched at all levels of an organisation. Management dedication should filter down to everybody, compelling them to be not only involved, but to become fully committed to quality. TQM has a strong client or customer orientation and the objective is to continually satisfy or exceed customer requirements in respect of all products and services or it can be viewed as a philosophy, a set of tools and a process whose output yields customer satisfaction and continuous improvement [1]. Defects are prevented through care and motivation, rather than policing and detection, leading to delivery to the expected standard the first time, every time. Due to the self -driven nature of TQM results are achieved at optimised durations and costs. The central theme thus becomes continuous improvement of the quality of services delivered by not only meeting, but exceeding requirements and impacts positively on customer or client relations. These relations are protected and built upon as primary and all-embracing focus in the delivery of services and/or products. The five dimensions of TQM The model presented in the following paragraphs apply TQM to the various dimensions or interfaces encountered between and inside companies involved in achieving the same objective, being it in a business or project context. The different dimensions proposed are depicted schematically and numbered in figure 1. Each arrow represents the delivery of a service or product in terms TQM principles by the one party to the other as indicated by the direction of the arrow. First dimension The first dimension is horizontally from the service delivering entity or contractor to the external service receiving entity or client. It coincides exactly with the classical theory of TQM, i.e. service excellence from the provider (supplier) towards the client or customer (recipient). Second dimension This dimension depicts the internal behaviour by employees to their top management according to TQM principles. It should be viewed on a level-by-level basis, where each lower

level considers the next higher level as its client and is committed to provide services vertically upwards in typical TQM fashion. The fulfilment of TQM in this dimension is a strong (indispensable) prerequisite for the delivery of TQM compatible services by top management to the external client in terms of first dimension, defined above.

1 Client 5 Contractor

Gert Basson

4
Figure 1: The five dimensions of TQM

Third dimension In this case, top management considers its employees internally as their clients and acts towards them in harmony with the prescriptions of TQM. It should, again, be viewed on a level-by-level basis, filtering vertically downwards through the organisation. Apart from a conventional TQM relationship, it extends further to the training and empowerment [1 & 2] of subordinates to take decisions and assume responsibility through knowledge and recognition. This, in turn, renders participation through brainstorming possible, leading to reciprocal advantages and motivation. It also includes the creation and fostering of an enabling environment towards all employees to deliver services provided in terms of the second dimension possible and optimising it. The third dimension thus becomes a prerequisite for the realization and optimization of the second dimension and the second for the first, as stated above. Fourth dimension The fourth dimension entails horizontal relationships between members of the personnel. In TQM the view is taken that each person or departmental activity within the organization

affects another and is, in turn, affected by others. As each person or department receives output from another, it makes the said person or department a customer of the other [3]. In this dimension each employee views its fellow employee as his/her client, acting according to the principles of TQM, the one towards the other. This dimension enhances the third and second dimensions internally to strengthen the first dimension externally. Fifth dimension The fifth dimension can be defined as intra-organisational maturity in TQM. It is reached when all participating parties or companies are internally fully developed to the fourth dimension of TQM and reciprocating it externally between one another, i.e. the client now also considers the service provider as its client or customer in respect of their relationship. It results in the culmination of TQM in intra-group context. This dimension or level opens up vast possibilities of beneficial co-operation between a group of entities to create a multi-organisational unit catering proactive ly in the demands of the external environment. Application to companies Having achieved the fifth dimension of TQM in an interlinked group of companies may lead to the advancement from symbiosis to consortia, partnering and, eventually, to alliance arrangements between them in rendering mutually dependent services to communities or consumers at large. It creates an unsurpassable vehicle towards success for all parties involved, although each retains its individual autonomy, a prerequisite, obviously, being the full development to TQM by each participating entity . Application to projects In the case of companies supplying services or products, development towards the fifth dimension of TQM, and the logical extension thereof into more formal arrangements, may take an appreciable time as all relationships may not be absolutely mandatory due to the higher level of self-sufficiency of many entities and, being on-going concerns, time may not be as of the essence as on projects with stringent time constraints. On projects, especially construction projects, a multi -disciplinary project team is , mostly, a given. The respective disciplines or functions, on most projects, also represent separate legal entities. This creates an ideal launching pad for the application of TQM up to the ultimate dimension. The challenge, obviously, lies in the early commitment of all parties to participation according to all dimensions of TQM and rapid progress towards the fifth dimension to enable the group to reap the benefits on a specific project. Collaboration based on the TQM principles of service delivery and relationships will lead to mutual trust between the parties. Mutual trust, in turn, may lead to the intra-group application of central planning (even to theory of constraint or critical chain principles), open -book

negotiations in case of variations, optimisation through value engineering, benefit sharing as an alliance, etc., all of which will contribute to a project machine with inexhaustible motivational energy. Repeated collaboration in this fashion may lead to more permanent arrangements between all or some of the participants, as indicated for companies in the previous section. The latter enhances their impact on the environment as a group. Conclusion The objective of the paper is stated as the develop ment of a model to enhance relationships between participating parties striving to achieve a common goal. The goal may be in an ongoing business or temporary project milieu . The theory of TQM was summarised as a methodology to achieve service excellence by and between companies or individuals. It was then extended by means of a sketch and the definition of five dimensions of application inside and between organisations. The result is a simple, yet, powerful model explaining, extending and applying TQM to both the business and, especially, the project environments. It enhances relationships and serves as a selfenergising motivational vehicle inside and between these entities.
REFERENCES 1. Hradesky, J.L. 1995. Total Quality Management Handbook. New York: McGraw -Hill, Inc. 2. Joubert W., Cruywagen J.H., Basson G.A.J. (2005): Will the implementation of a total quality management system benefit South African construction companies? South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, Volume 16, no. 1, May 2005, p29-40 3. Joubert W. (2002): The implementation and maintenance of a total quality management system in South African construction companies . Unpublished MSc (Project Management) treatise, University of Pretoria. 4. Logothetis, N. 1992. Managing for Total Quality: From Deming to Taguchi and SPC/N. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall International (UK) Ltd.