TQM: an act of balance between contradictions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of organisation and management by uncovering some embedded contradictions in total quality management (TQM). Design/methodology/approach – Based on discussions of leadership, TQM and the demands of modern working life, three examples of embedded contradictions that organisations can be confronted with have been discussed: collectivism versus individualism, manipulation versus empowerment and standardization versus innovative learning. Findings – One conclusion from this paper is that organisations, in a matter of complex navigation, need to find balance between these contradictions, something that can be a significant problem for many leaders and often seems to be handled in an instrumental manner. Originality/value – Although these contradictions are a growing concern in TQM research, they are seldom discussed in management literature, and therefore need to be addressed.