TQM in SME's in Botswana: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

Stiff competition driven by more demanding customers has exerted pressure on both small and large firms to adopt total quality management (TQM) practices Although TQM has currently grown to become a well-established field of research much of the work has concentrated on large multi-product, multi division and multi-national firms. Only a little has been done on the TQM practice of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Literature on quality improvement practice of SMEs in developing countries particularly in Africa is almost non-existent.


The purpose of this paper is, therefore to examine the problems and prospects of SMEs in implementing TQM practices by reviewing existing literature and collecting primary investigation of problems and possibilities, sample means and standard deviations are used to analyze the data. The results indicated that misperceptions coupled with lack of resources and strategic orientation have hindered the introduction of TQM practices in SMEs in Botswana. Implications for future research and strategies to achieves attitudinal and behavioural changes in SMEs are suggested.


Key Words: Total Quality Management ISO 9000, Small and Medium Enterprises, Developing Countries Quality Improvement, Quality Control


African Journal of Finance and Management Vol.10(1) 2001: 29-42