Academic and Administrative Perceptions on Total Quality Management Practices

Many studies in the field of TQM have been conducted in recent years. The majority of these studies have addressed the concept in manufacturing. Although few studies have considered the TQM in service sectors such as in the education section, none have considered the role of subculture in implementing TQM practices. This study aims to fill this gap by highlighting the role of subculture in the adoption of TQM practices. The study uses a questionnaire adapted from previous studies that were sent to 399 staff at the Community College of Qatar. The returned questionnaires represent 35% of the sample. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20 version. After ensuring the reliability and validity of the data, an independent-samples t-test was conducted to determine if there is any difference between the two groups (academic and administrative staff) with regard to the implementation of TQM practices. The results revealed that the two groups agree only on the implementation of leadership and vision practice. However, the analysis showed a significant difference between the academic and administrative staff in regard to other dimensions of TQM implementation (quality management system recognition, stakeholders focus, and measuring and continuous improvement). The results open the door for future studies to consider the different cultures within the institution when studying or applying the concept of TQM.