Culture, climate, and total quality management: measuring readiness for change

Total quality management (TQM) programs are being implemented in many government agencies with varying results. It was argued that most TQM program failures are due not to management failures but to a deep, pervasive organizational culture that engenders an operating climate which makes employees oppose change. Government executives who are planning to implement TQM should first measure their organization's readiness for change. If the organizational culture and climate refuse to accept change, a TQM program will fail regardless of management's commitment to its implementation.