TQM implementation in New Zealand service organizations

Studies various approaches used in total quality management (TQM) implementation in four mid to large service organizations in New Zealand. The research was conducted through a qualitative field study, using in‐depth interviews of in‐house trainers and internal and external quality consultants, as well as structured questionnaire responses from employees within the service organizations. Finds the existence of certain unique New Zealand workplace variables that influence the effectiveness of TQM implementation when foreign‐based implementation literature is followed. The extent to which Deming’s philosophies and principles are practised in New Zealand is decreasing as more prescriptive and contemporary approaches to TQM implementation have become available. In practice, the role of training is not the main tool for implementation in the organizations studied, however, it does have a key role to play. Finds that experiential applied learning methods are predominant in New Zealand TQM implementations, as opposed to the traditional classroom‐style training.