How does TQM relate to corporate culture?

Total Quality Management (TQM) is fundamentally about creating an environment where quality is prioritized at every level of an organization. By fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement, TQM encourages all employees to focus not just on meeting specifications, but on enhancing processes, products, and services over time. This cultural shift leads to higher employee engagement, as individuals feel empowered to contribute their insights and suggestions for improvement.

In a TQM-driven culture, organizations often implement training and development programs to support ongoing learning and adaptation, further cementing the commitment to quality as a core value. This also includes encouraging collaboration and teamwork, where different functions work together towards common goals of improving quality, enhancing customer satisfaction, and increasing efficiency.

The other options do not accurately represent the principles of TQM. Focusing solely on profits can create a short-term mindset that undermines long-term quality and customer satisfaction. Discouraging employee feedback stifles innovation and engagement, which is counterproductive to the objectives of TQM. Emphasizing competition among departments can lead to silos and conflict, which detracts from teamwork and a unified focus on quality improvement. Thus, the essence of TQM is indeed best captured by the idea of fostering a culture centered on quality and continuous