The effective implementation of total quality management and transformational leadership in higher education improvement: a case of Saudi universities

Abstract

There is limited empirical research on Total Quality Management (TQM) and Transformational Leadership (TL), and in particular the Higher Education (HE). The management literature of both Total Quality Management (TQM) and Transformational leadership is paying a great attention to higher education. However, there are gaps in the literature understanding what of the drivers that TQM and leadership can offer. This research explores the effective implementation of TQM and transformational leadership to improve the quality and ranking of Saudi Arabian universities. Many universities and colleges around the world have adopted TQM as a tool to enhance the quality of higher education. Due to the increase of competition in higher education industry (HE) e.g., the expansion of new universities and research centres in Saudi Arabia (SA) , Qatar, and Bahrain, many Middle Eastern universities are trying their best to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in H.E.by adopting TQM principles. Recntly leadership emerges as a significant and powerful theme along the quality management literature, as both TQM and leadership aim at improvements. A variety of leadership characteristics is highlighted in the higher education literature, including responsiveness, integrity, courage and passion, the capacity to champion change and adopt a collaborative approach to gain the necessary support for quality management initiatives This research study aims to explor in depth the impacts of the implementations of TQM and TL to the improvement of higher education. This study adopted a qualitative method, multiple case study approach in the interpretive paradigm. Data were collected from two major universities in Saudi Arabia with regards to the ranking and age establishment, primarily through semi-structured interviews, which was supplemented by observations and document analysis. Building themes and methods were employed to analyse the collected data. The sample consist of 22 interviewees from top management and middle management, mixed males and females working at the two universities in Saudi Arabia. A novel framework is developed to mitigate and to address the adoption of both TQM and leadership. The orginiality of this study is an attempt to extend the body of knowledge at both TQM and Leadership in H.E., also highlights the growing interest of implementing TQM in higher education, especially in Middle Eastern countries these dayes. It’s belevied that, The research provides vital strategy for decision makers to successfully adopt the TQM along side with transormational leadership, thus better stnadard will be adhgerted in the quality of the HE at in Saudi Arabia.