Application of total quality management to the Nigerian education system

Salami CGE and Ufoma Akpobire O

Delta State University, Department of Management and Marketing, PMB 95074 Asaba, Nigeria

Delta State Polytechnic, School of Business Studies, Department of Business Administration and Management

Corresponding Author Email: charles.salami@yahoo.com

Accepted 13 May, 2013

Abstract

Total Quality Management (TQM) is recognized as an important management philosophy. Although many people assume that TQM model applies only to profit-making organizations, it can also be applied to non-profit organizations, service organizations, as well as the different levels of education. Over the last few years, TQM has been applied in the education industry (Winn and Green, 1998). This paper describes the principles of TQM with emphasis on identifying the customer and analyzing the processes. The 14 points of Edwards Deming which form the framework for the implementation of TQM are individually applied to the academic environment based on the experience gained in higher education in Nigeria.

Keywords: Total Quality Management, Higher Education, Service Quality Education Processes, Customer Satisfaction.