The association of total quality management and financial performance in selected South African information technology organisations.

AbstractThis study evaluates Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation and itsassociation with financial performance in ten South African Information Technology(IT) organisations listed on the JSE. It uses a cross-sectional survey that usesquestionnaires and interviews to obtain data on TQM at the selected organisations. Adescriptive analysis of the data indicates that the organisations with higher TQMscores prove to do better in the financial area, but the null hypothesis of no association between TQM and financial performance cannot be rejected.An exploration of current and future trends with regards to TQM, quality managementphilosophies in general, and the IT industry in particular is also undertaken. Thetraditional ideology behind TQM remains in place, but needs an adjustment. A modelis formed for an integrated management system that includes concerns for internal and external influences in the IT sector.