TQM dimensions and their interrelationships in ISO certified engineering institutes of India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dimensions of TQM, analyse interrelationships and their combined influence on results achieved in ISO certified engineering institutes in India. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on the questionnaire survey of a sample of 216 faculty members serving in various ISO certified institutes of southern states of India. The data were obtained using a questionnaire that is in line with the self‐assessment philosophy of European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model (EFQM). The dataset was subjected to exploratory factor analysis using SPSS17.0 program for Windows. The confirmatory and causal analyses were carried out using AMOS 16.0 software. Findings – The factor analysis confirmed the existence of ten important dimensions of TQM that guide ISO institutes in their quality journey. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the developed TQM model. Leadership of top management was the main driving force for establishing an effective quality management system (QMS) in engineering institutes. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation is related to the notion of causality. The study has considered perception data for the predictive analysis. Practical implications – The paper unfolds ten important TQM factors that need attention from education administrators to manage quality in engineering education. The six enablers of the proposed TQM model significantly influence result criteria. The results obtained in this study encourage academic leaders to implement TQM concepts in their institutes to achieve a higher level of stakeholder satisfaction. Originality/value – The paper is a new contribution to broad understanding of TQM concepts and their impact on performance measures in engineering education in India.