Identification of Attributes of TQM in an Educational Institute: A System Model

This paper examines and proposes a list of attributes of Total Quality Management (TQM) in an educational institute, and develops a model for the benefit of researchers and academicians. Even though there have been a large number of papers published related to TQM, none of the papers focused on documenting the attributes of TQM in educational institutes using statistical methods. The paper investigates and lists 42 attributes of TQM in educational institutions. A quantitative study, involving the administration of a survey was conducted. The survey instrument consisted of 42 items and was prepared on the basis of attributes of TQM found during Literature Review. The application of Factor Analysis technique is illustrated for grouping the various attributes into Factors. The results of this study will help in a smoother penetration of TQM programs in educational institutes. The period of study is from 1995-2006. Considering the gamut of publications, TQM implementation has seen a steady growth and appears to be heading towards its maturity level.