Efficiency, Effectiveness and Productivity: The Abstract Measures of Quality Management in Higher Education

Abstract

The desire for continuous improvement in our educational system has now captured the interest and concern of all more than before. This state of reawakening may not be unconnected with the steady decline of the educational system since independence. Given the fact that education is the vehicle for the nation's overall development justifies the concern of stakeholders on the state of our educational system. What seem to give credence and respect to a country therefore, is the quality of her educational system. The quality of the system usually influences other sectors of the society since all other institutions depend on the educational system for their survival. The inefficient, ineffective and unproductive manner the Nigerian system, especially the social service sector has been performing takes root from how poor successive governments, its agencies and educational administrators have been managing the affairs of the education industry. This paper makes a case for reviving the system. Efficiency, effectiveness and productivity which are all quality indices are carefully discussed and synthesized into management techniques that will create in the staff and management officials the culture of excellent performance in our higher educational system. The hallmark is the presentation of TQM paradigm which when implemented religiously, will reposition our higher educational system to comparable international standards.

Keywords: Productivity; Efficiency; Effectiveness; Higher Education; TQM Paradigm.

The Nigerian Journal of Guidance and Counselling Vol. 11 (1) 2006: pp. 104-117