TQM and strategic alliances: development and validation in the context of Egyptian manufacturing sector

Total quality management (TQM) is one of the approaches identified as a contributing factor towards ensuring product/service is delivered as per customer requirements in achieving customer satisfactions and organisational performance. The main objective of this paper is to validate critical success factors (CSFs) of TQM that affect the implementation of TQM based on an extensive literature review since 1989 till date and through a pilot study on the manufacturing Egyptian firms. The validation of these critical success factors will help researchers to develop reliable and valid instruments that could be used in measuring the effective implementation of TQM in different contexts. Based on a comprehensive literature review, ten critical success factors had been identified as common constructs from previous research and quality gurus' writings. The study concluded further that the identified CSFs were highly reliable and valid and therefore the instrument can be used in measuring TQM implementation. Additionally top management commitment to quality was identified as the main driving force for implementing TQM and supportive infrastructure was identified as a barrier for TQM implementation.