Total quality management critical success factors, a comparison: The UK versus the USA

The present study attempted to determine if the TQM critical success factors identified in a 1996 European study by Black and Porter were pertinent to U.S. quality assurance professionals. The survey tool was sent to approximately 1,000 members of the American Society of Quality with 402 responding. The researcher determined that all of the TQM critical success factors identified in the 1996 Black and Porter study were important to U.S. quality assurance professionals. The factor stressing management commitment was the most important. Demographic factors appeared to contribute to a quality assurance professional's perception of which TQM critical factor was the most important.