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Extension of Proposed GCC Rail to Istanbul (Muscat-Istanbul Rail Track)
Extension of Proposed GCC Rail to Istanbul (Muscat-Istanbul Rail Track)
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Introduction
The countries in middle East are relaxing of their political and financial history. Some are battling for power and others for monetary strength. The district can possibly turn into a focal point of exchange and trade instead of turning into a focal point of world legislative issues which they selected to be as of right now of time. Taking a gander at the Middle East district all in all, it turns out to be clear that it has everything to succeed, characteristic assets in the Arabian Gulf Countries, populace of North African and other Arab Middle Eastern Countries. Dissimilar to others in the area, Arabian Gulf Countries have grown quickly in most recent 40 years or somewhere in the vicinity because of ascend in oil costs, political steadiness in these nations and great financial arranging. They additionally unionized as “GCC” with the expectation to support financial and political collaboration route in 1981. The truth of the matter is likewise that their exchange with other remote nations e.g. India and China is a great deal more in worth than that with one another. They are likewise taking a shot at GCC Rail, which will join every one of the six countries with a current rail system. This rail system will advance logistic offices in this developing area and will help boosting Intra GCC exchange too. Another Middle Eastern Country which as of late performed exceptionally well on the financial front is Turkey. Turkey is likewise now the biggest economy in Middle East regarding total national output. Streets, rail routes and other logistic means assume exceptionally basic part in incorporating nations in a locale, sadly aside from GCC Rail arrange, no viable exertion has been made to create logistic courses among Middle Eastern Countries. Once amid our dialog on “exchange and logistics in Middle East”, course educator recommended that an exchange course may be created which would interface GCC with Turkey going through Iraq and Syria (Muscat-Istanbul Rail Track) or as it were GCC Rail Track may be reached out to Istanbul yet welcomed your consideration towards political and financial impediments.The Risks and Rewards of Muscat-Istanbul Rail Track
The development extends in the GCC district never need desire. The scale and pace of foundation improvement put most different parts of the world solidly in the shade. Rail undertakings totaling $194 billion are currently a key piece of that blend, with a scope of the metro, light rail, and long separation courses either in progress or in the propelled arranging stages. The biggest of those activities intends to unite the GCC part states, encouraging the stream of travelers and cargo and giving a coordinated transport system to bridle and upgrade the financial advantages of new ports, air terminals and logistics zones. The advantages of rail incorporate decreased cargo transport expenses, expanded traveler portability, more prominent monetary mix and the natural advantages originating from the lessened street activity or enhanced urban travel. While those anticipated advantages normally pose a potential threat in authority declarations and press remark on the locale’s rail plans, it is critical to consider at the most punctual conceivable stage their particular effect on the utilization and advancement of other area (Consultancy, 2015).
While demographic and financial demonstrating may deliver amazing projections for traveler movement and income, the generally easygoing nature of between city traveler travel implies that income streams in light of “ridership” stay both unexpected and problematic. Shorter-separation suburbanite movement may be insignificantly more unsurprising, and fairly less defenseless against monetary weights, political or mechanical disturbance. Then again, for unsurprising, legitimately enforceable and in this manner fundable salary streams potential rail financial specialists are significantly more inclined to hope to cargo. This matters in light of the fact that it specifically influences both the administrative and contractual parts of rail advancement and the physical state of the foundation (Saadi, 2012).
Cargo has the ability to give the essential contractual supporting to huge scale rail advancement. Administrators’ entrance to the system is by, and large taking into the account gets that force a movement responsibility all through the term of the assentation. A contractual movement responsibility interprets, in venture terms, to a lawfully enforceable salary stream. Cargo access assentations likewise usually force stringent security prerequisites and working principles. From an administrative viewpoint, there is the abundant degree of institutionalization through the reception of model understandings and criteria-based general authorization administrations (Saadi, 2012).
Cargo likewise brings particular administrative difficulties. Transportation of dangerous substances, especially utilizing base that is to any degree imparted to traveler activity or prone to influence local locations or connecting business uses, obliges close and stringent regulation together with very much created and powerful episode reaction and fiasco recuperation arranging. Those issues must figure unmistakably in any danger evaluation or business case assessment for rail speculation. They encourage straightforwardly into the contractual portion of danger, protection and reinsurance prerequisites and, without a doubt, into the necessity for a state part of the backup plan of the final resort (Saadi, 2012).
The base prerequisites for cargo and traveler additionally separate. Cargo must be coordinated with both ocean transport and inner street and rail conveyance systems. On the ground, that focuses towards the improvement of vast scale multi-purpose cargo terminals, ideally with access to a created rail appropriation organize additionally to street haulage. While the fare of crude material and items may be to a great extent or even completely served by rail, imports and dissemination inescapably oblige street interfaces as products approach the “last mile”. Proficient arranging is thusly fundamental if blockage hotspots and bottlenecks are to be dodged (Consultancy, 2015).
For traveler movement, by differentiation, the essential need is for direct access to urban and downtown areas, whether for driving or more easygoing between city transport. Aside from the intrinsic logistical differences, wellbeing prerequisites direct as much detachment as is practicable in the middle of cargo and traveler administrations and offices. Where track must be shared, the key administrative test is to focus the need in the middle of traveler and cargo administrations. In different purviews, that has a tendency to result in cargo access to tracks outweighing everything else overnight while traveler administrations win amid the day and especially at top driving hours. Track access administrations have a tendency to apply a “flex” way to deal with cargo administrations, distributing time openings to cargo administrators that may be moved inside of a concurred reach to oblige different clients of the line. By differentiation, traveler administrations have a tendency to be managed on a “hardwired” premise, with particular time openings for track access dictated by the fundamentally more prominent exactness of distributed traveler timetables. Track access is a rare asset, and a key administrative target is to guarantee its ideal utilization. By and by, that has a tendency to mean 24-hour utilization partitioned in the middle of cargo and traveler activity (Dowden, 2014).
The normal advantages from the venture are colossal. The present method of transporting load is to a great extent finished with cargo trucks, a method of transport which, especially over long separations, can be wasteful, inclined to mischances and extravagant. A move to a cargo train has the capacity expel 50 trucks from the street and convey 1,000 tons of merchandise, likewise, cargo trains lessens the vitality expenses between 60%-80% over street transport, decreases street blockage and climatic poisons, and expenses up to 30% not as much as street transport. The system would help to change the substance of the transportation scene, profiting the area in general, and redirecting movement from the street onto the rail, lessening clogging. The development of the trans-Gulf railway system would go a long way to serve the region’s expanded freight and passenger transport needs (Oxfordbusinessgroup, 2014).
Predicting and managing impacts on adjoining land use. For the most part, the first open door for bordering private or business proprietors or occupiers to survey the presumable effect of rail advancement happens when point by point arrangements are distributed as a component of the authorization process for a plan. Where a task will slice through existing area utilizes, authorization may include the obligatory procurement of area or of rights over it. It is generally clear immediately whether a specific parcel will doubtlessly be needed, and the key question then turns into the measure of any pay payable in admiration of its procurement (Saadi, 2012).
Far less clear is the effect ashore that is recognized as being inside of the “breaking points of deviation”. However definite the starting studies and arrangements, notable experience has demonstrated that a rail route is never manufactured entirely as per the arrangements. Minor deviation, on a level plane or vertically, must be allowed to overcome building issues that get to be obvious just once development has started. At the point when considering the potential effect of a plan, abutting proprietors or occupiers ought to expect that the line will stay to the most extreme degree allowed. The distinction can be noteworthy. In an early UK case, development of a line in Scotland would have had no visual or another effect on close-by houses as it would have finished cutting a slope. Notwithstanding, experiencing troublesome ground conditions the rail route organization practiced its entitlement to digress, with the outcome that the line passed amazingly near to those houses with noteworthy visual effect, clamor, and interruption. There was no cure in light of the fact that the rail organization had done close to practice its legitimate privilege (Omran, 2012).
The project will be preserving development potential. Railroad improvement requires the production of a safe operational passageway. The impact was portrayed by Lord Radcliffe, a senior English judge, like driving a “steel obstruction” through the nation. To guarantee the railroad’s protected operation, the focuses at which other area users go too far must be kept in a base. Rights over the rail route, whether, by the method for a scaffold, underpass or level intersection must be restricted. In numerous previews, those rights are characterized by and restricted to the utilization of the connecting area at the date the rail route was built. That is on account of the configuration and limit of any intersection must be resolved at the start, with the outcome that physical cutoff points to the size or weight of vehicles are prone to have been figured into the outline to guarantee that any expenses borne by the railroad organization are kept to a base. On the off chance that land has improvement potential, there is regularly an exceptionally solid case for abutting proprietors to arrange for intersection rights that surpass current necessities, despite the fact that that may mean tackling an extent of the expenses connected with that introductory base. The more drawn out term danger of disinfection, or of needing to arrange for amplified rights during a period when the railroad organization has no compelling reason to make concessions, are liable to exceed that beginning expense. It is additionally key to guarantee that rights are particularly conceded in a manner that obliges, instead of points of confinement, future improvement or changes in utilization (Kerzner, 2013).Challenges of Muscat-Istanbul Rail Track
There is going to be noise, nuisance, and chemical reactions. Rail undertakings influence was connecting proprietors and occupiers amid the development stage. Furthermore, once the line is in operation. Rail administrators have, however, long experience, get to be adroit at recognizing the effects on especially touchy uses, for example, recording studios, and have a tendency to land at arranged settlements with those clients. Different clients should, for the most part, make moves to guarantee their own particular security and solace. Measures can incorporate upgraded soundproofing for private premises or inns nearby the line, or choices at an early stage to guarantee that the introduction of another structure. In those cases, obligation and expenses are prone to rest with the designer (Kiprono, Kemei, & Rotich, 2015).
There can likewise be some exceptionally sudden impacts. As a rule, the GCC rail undertakings are planned at first to keep running on diesel. Be that as it may, the configuration briefs incorporate limit for future zap of lines ought to that demonstrate monetarily attractive. Where lines are energized, abutting proprietors and occupiers must be aware of the danger of “electrolysis”. The sensation was initially seen in Melbourne, Australia when electric prepares and cable cars were presented in 1919. Power takes the easy way out and has a tendency to move through the earth and, especially, through any conductive material, for example, metals in the region. The impact can be fundamentally quickened erosion of close-by structures – not uplifting news if the structure being referred to is the steel casing of a building. There is plentiful building skill to manage such issues, yet antagonistic effects are still infrequently reported (Meredith & Mantel Jr,2011).
While it is essential to be aware of potential issues, rail advancement without a doubt offers noteworthy open doors for improved monetary action. Rail offers straight courses that a very much served by pipes and another framework that is profoundly suitable for shared utilization. Information transfers administrations can be essentially reached out, with fiber associations giving key backhaul limit. New stations likewise have a tendency to make centers for monetary movement, including noteworthy retail opportunities whether for the comfort segment or to address the “last half mile” issue for products conveyance. For property designers, whether business or private, enhanced transport connections, including the choice of rail or urban travel administrations, can physically add to esteem. Drawn closer productively, rail can be a tremendously positive component in the financial blend of the area.
The arrangement is essentially for the single track, standard gauge line, conveying both travelers and cargo, with the twofold track on the most prevalent courses. Fundamental to understanding this is the GCC Railway Authority, which is arranging the connection up, locale wide. It includes working with every national power to verify that its own residential rail improvement arrangements dovetail with the needs of the vast system. The production of uniform specialized gauges is additionally a piece of the vision, similar to the institutionalization of methods. There are, on the other hand, various designing difficulties that need to be tended to. With summer temperatures regularly well over 40°C, and the significant temperature changes that happen during the evening, rail lines must have the capacity to withstand critical variances in climatic conditions. There is likewise the issue of keeping the desert sands under control, as rises movement (Hall, 2012).
Another issue is HR. With each GCC state seeking after its own individual rail extent, a lack of experienced and prepared faculty to take a shot at the GCC Rail activity may be an obstacle. What’s more, Customs and fringe checks between GCC individuals are not generally as smooth as some may wish. Guaranteeing that travel crosswise over boondocks is as proficient as could reasonably be expected is essential to the venture’s prosperity. With the rail blast in the Gulf now obviously going full bore, the possibilities of the GCC Rail connection up happening have never been more noteworthy. The advantages for organizations and financial specialists are clear as well, from those gatherings straightforwardly included in rail framework to the numerous that may profit by speedier and more cost proficient provincial transport (Hwang & Ng, 2013).Recommendations
There are various difficulties making headway. The railroad architects will need to defeat the tricky desert conditions, moving sand have truly made rail ventures troublesome and unfavorable in the locale. Other than challenges with steel, the states ambassadors will need to overcome social and lawful contemplations termed “delicate issues, for example, traditions, security, pirating and migration for ostracizes.
Presently it is the essential part of the services of transportation to control the railroad framework, as national rail line powers don’t exist yet. The advancement of these administrative establishments will be indispensable for the accomplishment of the rail frameworks. Which is no simple undertaking, the Gulf States still contrast ideologically as much as socially, boundaries a joint task may help to succeed.
Everyone in the Middle East is discussing cargo. On the off chance that you have vast volumes over more separations, then trucks will lose and trains will win. Organizations that have since a long time ago depended on lorries to ship their merchandise from ports to urban communities will now be given another method of transport hitherto untested in the locale, with the exception of in Saudi Arabia. The fundamental contention is that if the separation is too short, organizations may not yet be influenced to move to railroads. It obliges a standard change on the grounds that individuals are not used to this method of transportation so that it will take some training. It is extremely trying for rail route speculators to rival trucks, and we are confronting issues with numerous entrepreneurs. As an administration organization, we are attempting to make it appealing and give motivating forces for individuals.Conclusion
Sponsored by high oil costs, solid government money related offsets and a proceeded with wave of open spending on framework undertakings and social projects, GCC nations are situated to witness further strong monetary development in the following two years.
On the other hand, the nation’s endless region and changed topographical components alongside its eager due dates and goals has offered ascent to a novel arrangement of financing, logistical and designing difficulties that require inventive and clever arrangements.
The normal advantages from the task are far reaching. The present method of transporting load is to a great extent finished with cargo trucks, a method of transport which, especially over long separations, can be wasteful, inclined to mishaps and extravagant.
The system would help to change the substance of the transportation scene, profiting the area all in all, and redirecting activity from the street onto the rail, diminishing blockage. The improvement of the trans-Gulf railroad framework would go far to serve the area’s extended cargo and traveler transport needs.
It is a less expensive method of transport when contrasted with different methods of transport. The majority of the working costs of rail routes are in the way of altered expenses. Each increment in the rail line activity is trailed by a batement in the normal expense. Rail transport is prudent in the utilization of work additionally as one driver and one watchman are adequate to convey a great deal more load than the engine transport.
References
Consultancy, (2015). GCC railway benefits Middle East transport landscape. Retrieved from:
HYPERLINK “http://www.consultancy.uk/news/1274/gcc-railway-benefits-middle-east-transport-landscape” http://www.consultancy.uk/news/1274/gcc-railway-benefits-middle-east-transport-landscape
Dowden, M. (2014). Rail In The GCC: Risks And Rewards. Retrieved from:
HYPERLINK “http://www.mondaq.com/x/288086/Building+Construction/Rail+In+The+GCC+Risks+And+Rewards” http://www.mondaq.com/x/288086/Building+Construction/Rail+In+The+GCC+Risks+And+Rewards
Hall, N. G. (2012). Project management: Recent developments and research opportunities.
Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering, 21(2), 129-143.
Hwang, B. G., & Ng, W. J. (2013). Project management knowledge and skills for green
construction: Overcoming challenges. International Journal of Project Management, 31(2), 272-284.
Kerzner, H. R. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and
controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Kiprono, K. J., Kemei, C. C., & Rotich, J. (2015). Determinants of Completion Time of Projects
Funded From Constituency Development Fund in Kenya: A Survey of Projects in Ainamoi Constituency. European Journal of Business and Management, 7(2), 172-182.
Meredith, J. R., & Mantel Jr, S. J. (2011). Project management: a managerial approach. John
Wiley & Sons.
Omran, M. F. (2012). Uncovering the relationship between the degree of transparency and the
level of trade logistics in the Middle East and North Africa. African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 1(4), 377-388.
Oxfordbusinessgroup, (2014). Linking up the region: Significant rail investment in the GCC
adds promise to increased trade. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK “http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/linking-region-significant-rail-investment-gcc-adds-promise-increased-trade” http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/linking-region-significant-rail-investment-gcc-adds-promise-increased-trade
Saadi, D. (2012).GCC Railways On TrackBillion-dollar railway projects are finally gaining
momentum in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK “http://gulfbusiness.com/2012/01/gcc-railways-on-track/” http://gulfbusiness.com/2012/01/gcc-railways-on-track/
Human environment interactions (2)
Human environment interactions
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The theory of environmental determinism ascribes a single factor as the predominant influence over the entire structure. The environmental determinism theory was among the first theories to be described that attempted to explain human and ecological interactions. The theory assigns one factor to define an entire system. Therefore, social growth, development, and activities are organized and modified by the environment. Also, cultural factors, race, and the level of intelligence are derived from natural human habitat. The theory was widely accepted in the 19th century as it provided the ideological basis for colonialism. Hippocrates and Aristotle endorsed the ideas, which were later adopted by the Romans (Gomeseria, 2016). The Romans used this theory to try to explain their predominant conquest of the rest of the world. Climate was the primary factor used to try to elaborate on human-environment interaction. Thus climate determines human behavior, a concept termed as a stimulus-response reaction. The stimulus-response response became the foundation of behavioral geography.
Climate is a major defining factor for environmental determinists. The climate determines the psychological mindset of individuals, which in turn influences their behavior and culture. For example, Jamaicans are stereotyped to be lazy, relaxed, and undetermined. An environmental critique would argue that their character arises from Jamaica’s location in a tropical climate. At the same time, people in the UK experience four seasons of different weather, and thus the determinists would argue that that is the basis of the people’s determination and hard work. The theory has many flaws. The approach led to generalization and did not allow for research.
The second theory of cultural determinism or possibilism was developed by critiques that saw the first theory’s flaws. The idea of possibilism is attributed to David Le Da Blanche, a French geographer. Boas first coined the possibilism term. The term means that the environment only limits the number of choices that an individual has. Thus, at its core, the theory follows that humans have absolute control over their domain, although within specific confines. Environmental possibilism has wholly substituted the theory of environmental determinism. People do not acclimatize to the environment; they instead transform the environment to suit their needs (Gomeseria, 2016).
Man has changed the environment to meet his demands. The most visible and predominant are industrial and technological revolution and agricultural advancement. For example, the industrial revolution began in Great Britain, and it has truly revolutionized the ways of life of the modern man. From Great Britain, the inventions spread to North America and the rest of Europe. The agricultural revolution began with the development of fertilizers and pesticides, new irrigation and farming methods, and organic farming. Due to advancement, there is greater output from farms to meet the demands. One cannot talk about possibilism without mention the influence of technology on human lives. Modern means of communication such as telephones, the internet, mobile phones, cable TV has turned the world into a global village. Technological advancement has also revolutionized the industrial sector using computers and robots to control the robust manufacturing process. The use of technology has increased industrial outputs and made manufacturing safer.
Of the two theories, environment possibilism gives a better explanation of human behavior and dominance. Possibilism is adaptable and relevant to the current world. The idea adapts the use of various factors to elaborate on social interactions, unlike the theory of environmental determinism, where only a single factor modulates human behavior and culture.
Extant literature on TQM
Literature review
Extant literature on TQM has been dedicated to the critical success factors, modes of implementation failure and its effects on organizational performance. In this chapter, we present a review of extant literature on TQM, its definition, definition of quality, factors affecting its implementation, and a review of literature on TQM as a conceptual framework/philosophy.
Definition of Quality
Several authors have attempted to define the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM). However, a lot of confusion surrounds the definition of the quality. The concept of quality holds different meanings to different individuals (Garvin, 1988). Until today, no consensus has been reached on the definition of quality as Wicks (2009) pointed out. This implies that no consensus has been reached on the actual meaning and definition of the concept of TQM.
According to Crosby (1989) quality denotes conformance to various requirements. The essential parameters in this definition are that; one is aware of the requirements and be able to translate them into measurable service or product characteristics. It is therefore necessary for individuals and companies to quantify the characteristics of a given product or service in order for them to determine if their quality is high or low.
According to Deming (1988, p.54), quality has two important definitions. Generally, he sees quality as a multidimensional concept that allows a company or individual to produce products and services that meets customer’s expectations. He argued that the concept of quality must be determined by the level of customer satisfaction. He also noted that quality is a multidimensional concept that can never be defined in terms of a simple or single parameter. He proceeded to say that quality exists at various degrees because it can be equated to the various levels of customer satisfaction.
The work of Feigenbaum (1983) noted that quality is the total aggregate product as well as service characteristics of engineering, marketing, manufacturing as well as maintenance via which the given product or service would meet customer’s expectations. The views of Feigenbaum and Deming are synonymous. Feigenbaum too just as Deming believes that the concept of quality must take into account the level of customer satisfaction and is multidimensional. The only difference between their views is that Feigenbaum believes that customers’ changing needs and expectations are highly dynamics. Top management must therefore play a role in maintaining quality by recognizing this evolution in the very definition of quality at the various phases of a product and industry life cycle (Feigenbaum ,1983, p.7).
According to Ishikawa (1985), industries engage in quality control in order for them to achieve the manufacturing of products that have a high quality that can adequately satisfy the needs of their customers. His main points are that the concept of quality goes hand in hand with customer satisfactions and that quality is a concept that must be defined in a comprehensive manner. He also believes that customer needs and expectations are in a constant state of flux and this means that quality too is dynamic. The price of a given product is also an essential element of its quality.
According to Juran (1988), quality is made up of certain product characteristics that meet the needs as well as expectations of customers. The customers must in this case be satisfied with the product or service offering. Quality denotes a state of freedom from all sorts of flaws and deficiencies.
The work of Goodman, O’Brein and Segal (2000, p.49) defined quality as the process of consistently manufacturing products that meet client’s expectations. This is done while also mitigating errors prior to as well as after the delivery of such a product to the client. The whole idea is to product a product that completely satisfies the clients.
The work of Dervitsiotis (2003) took a rather systematic approach to the concept of quality. In his definition, he noted that quality is the process of meeting and even exceeding the needs as well as of all the business stakeholders. The stakeholders in this cases are customers, employees, the community and even the suppliers.
Definition of TQM
Extant literature has been dedicated to the definition of TQM. These definitions are based on either its functions or applications (Mann & Kehoe, 1994). For example, the work of Dale and cooper (1994) defined the concept as the mutual cooperation of all members of an organization and as well as its corresponding business process for the sake of producing products and services, that meet the needs as well as expectations of clients”. Kanji (1990) on the other hand based his definition on the process as well as practices of TQM. He noted that TQM an organization’s way of life that is committed to realization and delivery of customer satisfaction via a continuous improvement process.
Several studies have been dedicated to the criticizing TQM as a philosophy. The work of
Park Dahlgaard (2002) noted that there are two main negative sources of criticism against TQM. The first criticism is related to concerns on the implementation of TQM as well as the failure of the process to deliver according to expectations.
. A debate has been raging on whether organization experiencing failure have implemented TQM or other forms of philosophy. The other source of criticism is on the basis of the concept as a general theory of management. This form of criticism is based on the fact that there is a general lack of criticism on the definition as well as the fact that the main characteristics of the concept ambiguous and not in any way related to other existing theories of management.
TQM as a movement has always responded to these criticisms by continuously adding more tools and ideas into the extant definitions of TQM. This therefore means that single and consensual definition is hard to arrive at. Most of the existing definitions are either vague or incomplete (Olsson & Bokor ,1995), The confusion in the definition of TQM is attributed or blamed on the divergent opinions as well as confusion surrounding the evolution of TQM as well as the meaning of the concept of quality.
The critical success factors
Extant literature has been devoted to the analysis and identification of the factors that are critical to the successful implementation of TQM. These studies appear to have an emphasis on three main areas. These areas according to Tari, (2005) and Claver et al. ( 2003) are ; involvement from quality leaders, prescribed assessment models as well as empirical research. The work of Dale (1999) noted that training, management leadership, process management, employee’s participation as well as the planning as well as use of quality measures for the purpose of realizing continuous improvement are the main critical success factors for TQM.
The work of Sila and Ebrahimpour (2005), Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) as well as Sebastianelli and Tamimi (2003) pointed out that the initial or pioneering empirical research that focused on TQM’s operationalization via the identification its critical success factors was that of Saraph et al. (1989). Since the publication of their work, several other authors have attempted to identify the factors that determine how successful or unsucessful TQM implementation are. The most significant literatures in this category are the works of Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) and Sila and Ebrahimpour (2005) due to their systematic analysis as well as summary of previous research on this topic.
The work of Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) employed a total of 37 studies on TQM in order to identify a total of fifty six critical success factors (CSF) of TQM. Their choices for these studies were based on the fact that their validity and reliability in regard to the critical success factors were acceptable in statistical terms. By means of Pareto law or analysis, their work grouped these fifty six critical success factors in a descending order and then appropriately divided them into two main groups that were titled as either ‘useful many’ or ‘very useful’. The ‘useful many’ category accounted for close to 20 percent of all occurrences while the ‘vital few’ accounted for close to 80 percent of the CSF. According to their analysis, the most important critical success factor for TQM implementation is top management commitment. This study therefore appropriately confirmed what Sila and Ebrahimpour (2003) had found a little bit earlier.
The work of Ramayah and Saad (2006) investigated the relationship existing between various TQM practices. Their study used the concept of multicollinearity in order the existing between the various TQM practices. The practices that investigated included management support and commitment, , employee empowerment, employee involvement , information and communication, customer focus, training and education, service quality as well as continuous improvement .They also investigated the relationship between these TQM practices and the prevailing market orientation. The outcome of their investigation revealed that continuous improvement, information and communication, employee empowerment and customer focus have a great impact on the quality of service delivery while customer focus as well as employee empowerment have a great effect on market orientation.
The work of Jusoh, Yusoff and Mohtar (2008) indicated that top management leadership, customer focus, process management, data as well as information management, performance management, partnership as well as resource management are the practices are the TQM factors that can be used effectively within R&D facilities.
The application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in the analysis of the relationship between the CSF has yielded mixed results. Such an analysis however, has generally indicated that information analysis, leadership, customer focus and human resource focus have a positive correlation with customer satisfaction in organizations. The work of Ali, Mahat, and Zairi,(2010) that was carried out in order to investigate the major critical success factor of TQM with a focus on human resources indicated a lot on the human resource elements of TQM practices. Customer focus, visionary leadership, staff selection as well as deployment, communication, training and education, innovation as well as creativity, recognition and employee motivation, staff competency, as well teamwork spirit are the important elements of human resource-based TQM practices.
A critical review of literature on the critical success factors
Leadership and the commitment of top management
Extant literature has been dedicated to the roles of leadership and the commitment of top management as critical success factors of TQM. Several authors have noted top management commitment to be a prerequisite for achieving high levels of organizational commitment (Buch and Rivers, 2002). The work of Leiter and Maslach (2002) regards the commitment of senior management as a more important factor in TQM implementation. Top management’s commitment is also noted to be an important factor by various empirical studies (Saraph et al., 1989; Ahire et al., 1996; Thiagarajan, 1996; Ramirez and Loney, 1993; Rao et al., 1999; Lau and Idris, 2001; Dayton, 2001; Sureshchandar et al., 2001).
People management
According to the work of Wuagneux (2002), the revised EFQM model of excellence have placed a greater emphasis on the role of people on the management and success of companies. A consideration must therefore, be made on the role that is played by culture as well as employee motivation on the creation of successful organizations. The work of Kanji (1998) effectively proposed the application of a people management principle that took into consideration ‘team work’ as well as the fact that people are the source of quality as one of the main TQM principles.
The involvement of employees as well as their commitment to the organizational goals as prescribed by the TQM model is a precondition to a successful implementation of TQM practices (McAdam and Kelly, 2002; Buch and Rivers 2002 ). Employee empowerment has therefore been shown by a large number of authors to be a critical success factor of implementing TQM (Dale et al., 2001; Davidson et al., 2001; Rao et al., 1999; Martinez-Lorente et al.,1998; Zhang et al., 2000).
Middle management involvement
The involvement of middle management is considered by Thiagarajan and Zairi (1997) as a technique for optimizing employee involvement in an organization’s quality process. This is because these middle managers are the ones responsible for initiating several key major adjustments to product quality. The middle managers ahs a critical role play because they are required to have an expert opinion and grasp of all the TQM principles while also being able to explain these principles to the rest of the workers. This way, the TQM philosophy is appropriately communicated to the entire organization’s team as noted by Oakland (2000).
Training and employee education
Extant literature has been dedicated to the study of employee training and education as critical success factors of TQM. The work of Mathews et al (2001) indicates that the training that acts as a basis of quality management is a strong determinant of the effectiveness of the various quality measures that are undertaken. The work of Zhang et al. (2000) reiterated the importance of training and education to the success of all TQM initiatives. A series of empirical studies have indicated that both training and education are essential to the successful implementation of TQM (Thiagarajan and Zairi, 1998; Quazi and Padibjo, 1998; Rao et al., 1999; Zhang et al., 2000; Yusof and Aspinwall, 2000; Black and Porter, 1996; Tamimi, 1998; Pun, 2001; Calisir et al., 2001; Dayton, 2001)
Employee reward and appreciation
The concepts of reward and appreciation/recognition are very important critical success factors for TQM implementation. The work of Oakland (2000), indicates that the concept of TQM is inherently user-driven. The work of Kemp et al. (1997) however, noted that recognition or acknowledgement is important since it helps in increasing employee involvement in the running of a company. Several authors have also explored the importance of employee reward and acknowledgement in the overall TQM process (Haksever, 1996; Li et al., 2001; Everett, 2002; Martinez-Lorente et al., 1998).
Teamwork
According to the works of Oakland (2000) and Goh (2000), one of the most popular Japanese approach to the attainment of quality production is use of kaizen team or quality circles. A review of extant literature reveals that the concept of teamwork is essential for TQM techniques to be successful (Cebeci and Beskese, 2002; Everett, 2002; McAdam and Kelly, 2002). According to the work of Mehra et al. (1998), one of the crucial elements of an organization’s human resource function that has been noted to be a critical success factor to the successful implementation of TQM initiatives is teamwork.
Quality organizational policy and strategy
Experts in quality management have often insisted on the need for the development of strategic planning process that has its foundations on total quality concept (Sinclair and Zairi, 2001; Hitchcock and Willard, 2002; Sureshchandar et al., 2001) .
Communicating for the sake of quality
The work of Kanji and Asher (1993) noted that effective communication system is an essential component of the total quality process. This means that an effective communication system is paramount to the success of any kind of quality initiative (Sureshchandar et al., 2001). Organizational change must be communicated effectively for resistance to be mitigated (Salegna and Fazel, 2000; Claver et al., 2001).
Efficient supplier management system
Supplier quality management is an essential element of all TQM initiatives. This is because materials and other purchased elements are often a main source of problems related to quality (Zhang et al., 2000). Several authors have argued that firms must first establish an efficient supply chain partnership in order to motivate their suppliers to avail the materials that are needed to satisfy customer expectations (David, 2002; Clifton, 2001). These findings are further supported by other studies (Thiagarajan et al., 2001; Lau and Idris, 2001).
An accredited system for quality management
Extant literature has been devoted to the exploration of accredited and independent quality management systems. Example is ISO 9000 certification that can be argued to be the starting point for quality-based competitiveness. The TQM process is a sure way of gaining a competitive advantage as exemplified in a wide range of literature (Kolka, 2002; Williams, 1997; Van der Weile and Brown, 1998).
According to the work of Oakland and Porter (1994) and Shipley (2002), most organizations regard ISO 9000 certification as the initial step in the implementation of TQM. A highly documented quality assurance system is also a critical element of every TQM strategy. This strategy’s success is however, subject to how consistently it can manage a organization’s processes (Zhang et al., 2000). The work of Beattie and Sohal (1999) indicated that most organizations implement ISO 9000 quality system concurrently with other quality standards (Beskese and Cebeci, 2001; McAdam and McKeown, 1999).
Moren-Lozon and Peris (1998) created an integrated model for organizational design, strategic management and quality management. In this model, they grouped quality organizations into two main categories- quality assurance and TQM organization. The quality assurance organization is characterized by high level of conformity to quality standards while the TQM organization is characterized by elements of internal as well as external employee involvement, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. This, according to Jabnoun (2000) indicates low-level formalization coupled with a centralized organizational structure.
The work of Oakland and Porter (1994) indicated that one of the main responsibilities of top management at the initial phases of TQM program implementation is the setting up of an organization structure that is of high quality. Oakland (2000) reiterated that such a structure would lead to the creation of a framework that enables quality operations. Quality organization is therefore, considered as a crucial element in the attainment of a successful implementation of TQM initiatives.
In order to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction, the work of (2000) reiterated the importance of efficient management of internal-supplier relationships as the very first phase of supporting an organization’s process management. Via a translation process involving the translation of the consumer-supplier chain at an enterprise-wide level, organization can achieve a better focus that would in the end translate to value creation (McAdam and Kelly, 2002).
The significance of customer focus can be seen in the fact that such a function is assigned the greatest weight in the European Quality Award and Malcolm Baldrige Award (NIST,1999; EFQM, 1999).
Benchmarking
Several authors have discussed the importance of benchmarking in the successful implementation of TQM initiatives (Sinclair and Zairi, 2001). Dow et al. (1999) never hesitated to mention that benchmarking is a challenging quality practice that helps organization by providing them with a systematic analysis of their achievements of all crucial quality objectives.
Benchmarking has been argued and even demonstrated to be result in success in organizations requiring change management. For instance, benchmarking can result in the success of organizations requiring process re-engineering as noted by Thor and Jarrett (1999). It also noted by Cassell et al., (2001) to result in improved level of operational performance as well as overall change in organizational action and thinking. According to Jarrar and Zairi (2000) , benchmarking is a practice that is increasingly being appreciated as a powerful strategy for improving performance at an enterprise-wide level.
The work of Dervitsiotis (2000) noted that several key organizations such as European Foundation for Quality and the American Productivity and Quality Centre are serious with the promotion as well as training of their members and employees in benchmarking as an important approach in the achievement of business excellent.
Self-assessment
According to Oakland (2000), the concept of self-assessment is important to organization since it helps them in highlighting their strengths and opportunities while also helping them to attain continuous improvement in their processes and operations (Conti, 1999)
Factors hindering TQM implementation
According to Ab Rahman et al (2011), organizations must be ready to determine the factors hindering the implementation of TQM for their TQM initiatives to be successful. This study is very important to this study since it explored the factors affecting the successful implementation of TQM in Islamic countries. It also explored the factors hindering TQM implementation in these countries. All Middle Eastern countries are Islamic nations. According to Khan (2001), the main concern regarding the implementation of TQM in Islamic nations like the ones located in Middle Eastern countries is the notion that the concept of TQM is totally alien and not relevant to the Islamic religious and cultural norms.
Some of the main problems facing the implementation of TQM are general lack of lack of strong organizational leadership, lack of strategic quality planning, lack of effective human resources development and management, the total lack of capability of managing quality process, as well as total disregard of customer satisfaction as well as quality results as noted by Kravchuke and Leighton (1993).
Extant literature has been devoted to the analysis and identification of the factors that are critical to the successful implementation of TQM. These studies appear to have an emphasis on three main areas. These areas according to Tari, (2005) and Claver et al. ( 2003) are ; involvement from quality leaders, prescribed assessment models as well as empirical research. The work of Dale (1999) noted that training, management leadership, process management, employee’s participation as well as the planning as well as use of quality measures for the purpose of realizing continuous improvement are the main critical success factors for TQM.
The work of Sila and Ebrahimpour (2005), Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) as well as Sebastianelli and Tamimi (2003 pointed out that the initial or pioneering empirical research that focused on TQM’s operationalization via the identification its critical sucessfactors was that of Saraph et al. (1989). Since the publication of their work, several other authors have attempted to identify the factors that determine how successful or unsucessful TQM implementation are. The most significant literatures in this category are the works of Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) and Sila and Ebrahimpour (2003) due to their systematic analysis as well as summary of previous research on this topic.
The work of Karuppusami and Gandhinathan (2006) employed a total of 37 studies on TQM in order to identify a total of fifty six critical success factors (CSF) of TQM. Their choices for these studies were based on the fact that their validity and reliability in regard to the critical success factors were acceptable in statistical terms. By means of Pareto law or analysis, their work grouped these fifty six critical success factors in a descending order and then appropriately divided them into two main groups that were titled as either ‘useful many’ or ‘very useful’. The ‘useful many’ category accounted for close to 20 percent of all occurrences while the ‘vital few’ accounted for close to 80 percent of the CSF. According to their analysis, the most important critical success factor for TQM implementation is top management commitment. This study therefore appropriately confirmed what Sila and Ebrahimpour (2003) had found a little bit earlier.
The work of Ramayah and Saad (2006) investigated the relationship existing between various TQM practices. Their study used the concept of multicollinearity in order the existing between the various TQM practices. The practices that investigated included management support and commitment, , employee empowerment, employee involvement , information and communication, customer focus, training and education, service quality as well as continuous improvement .They also investigated the relationship between these TQM practices and the prevailing market orientation. The outcome of their investigation revealed that continuous improvement, information and communication, employee empowerment and customer focus have a great impact on the quality of service delivery while customer focus as well as employee empowerment have a great effect on market orientation.
The work of Jusoh, Yusoff and Mohtar (2008) indicated that top management leadership, customer focus, process management, data as well as information management, performance management, partnership as well as resource management are the practices are the TQM factors that can be used effectively within R&D facilities.
The application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in the analysis of the relationship between the CSF has yielded mixed results. Such an analysis however, has generally indicated that information analysis, leadership, customer focus and human resource focus have a positive correlation with customer satisfaction in organizations. The work of Ali, Mahat, and Zairi,(2010) that was carried out in order to investigate the major critical success factor of TQM with a focus on human resources indicated a lot on the human resource elements of TQM practices. Customer focus, visionary leadership, staff selection as well as deployment, communication, training and education, innovation as well as creativity, recognition and employee motivation, staff competency, as well teamwork spirit are the important elements of human resource-based TQM practices.
According to Crosby (1979) quality denotes conformance to various requirements. The essential parameters in this definition are that; one is aware of the requirements and be able to translate them into measurable service or product characteristics. It is therefore necessary for individuals and companies to quantify the characteristics of a given product or service in order for them to determine if their quality is high or low.
According to Deming (1988, p.54), quality has two important definitions. Generally, he sees quality as a multidimensional concept that allows a company or individual to produce products and services that meets customer’s expectations. He argued that the concept of quality must be determined by the level of customer satisfaction. He also noted that quality is a multidimensional concept that can never be defined in terms of a simple or single parameter. He proceeded to say that quality exists at various degrees because it can be equated to the various levels of customer satisfaction.
The work of Feigenbaum (1983) noted that quality is the total aggregate product as well as service characteristics of engineering, marketing, manufacturing as well as maintenance via which the given product or service would meet customer’s expectations. The views of Feigenbaum and Deming are synonymous. Feigenbaum too just as Deming believes that the concept of quality must take into account the level of customer satisfaction and is multidimensional. The only difference between their views is that Feigenbaum believes that customers’ changing needs and expectations are highly dynamics. Top management must therefore play a role in maintaining quality by recognizing this evolution in the very definition of quality at the various phases of a product and industry life cycle (Feigenbaum ,1983, p.7).
According to Ishikawa (1985), industries engage in quality control in order for them to achieve the manufacturing of products that have a high quality that can adequately satisfy the needs of their customers. His main points are that the concept of quality goes hand in hand with customer satisfactions and that quality is a concept that must be defined in a comprehensive manner. He also believes that customer needs and expectations are in a constant state of flux and this means that quality too is dynamic. The price of a given product is also an essential element of its quality.
According to Juran (1988), quality is made up of certain product characteristics that meet the needs as well as expectations of customers. The customers must in this case be satisfied with the product or service offering. Quality denotes a state of freedom from all sorts of flaws and deficiencies.
The work of Goodman, O’Brein and Segal (2000, p.49) defined quality as the process of consistently manufacturing products that meet client’s expectations. This is done while also mitigating errors prior to as well as after the delivery of such a product to the client. The whole idea is to product a product that completely satisfies the clients.
The work of Dervitsiotis (2003) took a rather systematic approach to the concept of quality. In his definition, he noted that quality is the process of meeting and even exceeding the needs as well as of all the business stakeholders. The stakeholders in this cases are customers, employees, the community and even the suppliers.
The role of quality information system in manufacturing companies
In the past couple of years, a lot of research has been conducted on the role of quality information system in the operations of companies. The work of Mjema et al (2005) explored the role of information technology on quality management. Tang and Duan (2006) on the other hand, investigated the role and application of integrated quality information system (IQIS) on the Chinese manufacturing industries. Their work concluded that an IQIS system in feasible with a high level of reliability and efficiency being achieved in the very end by Chinese manufacturers. The work of Muravlyova (2001) investigated the use of quality management information systems in the production of electrical machines. What is clearly evident is that studies on the application of QIS in Middle East are quite rare.
References
Ab Rahman et al (2012).Barriers and Benefits of Total Quality Management Implementation in Libyan Manufacturing Companies.Middle East Journal of Scientific Research 7 (4)
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Ali, N. A., Mahat, F., & Zairi, M. (2010). Testing the criticality of HR-TQM factors in the
Malaysian higher education context. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence,
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Black, S. and Porter, L. (1996), `Identification of critical factors of TQM’ ’, Decision Sciences , Vol. 27, pp. 1-21.
Beattie, K. and Sohal, A. (1999), ` `Implementing ISO 9000: a study of its benefits among Australian organisations’’, Total Quality Management , Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 95-10