Total quality management in research institutes in Greece

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which total quality management is being used in research institutes in Greece via: (1) 10 common quality tools and techniques and (2) specific characteristics of the organization, that are specified in the Total Quality Management Assessment Inventory by Sashkin and Kiser (1992). The majority of research institutes in Greece are public or Non Profit Private Legal Entities (“NPID” under Greek Law), supervised by the Greek government through the Ministry of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs (since 2009). The research questions examined in this study were as follows: 1. What is the extent to which 10 common quality tools and techniques of total quality management are being used in research institutes in Greece? 2. What is the extent to which 39 characteristics (practices, policies, procedures) of total quality management are being applied in research institutes in Greece? The survey instrument used to measure the extent to which total quality management is being used in research institutes in Greece was the Total Quality Management Assessment Inventory by Sashkin and Kiser (1992). The findings of this study were as follows: 1. Greek research institutes use specific and structured quality improvement techniques, receive training in the importance of quality, participate in quality circles and receive training in statistical process control, to a slight extent. 2. Two policies that are applied completely in Greek research Institutions are firstly that there is no downsizing or staff reductions, unless there is retirement or normal turnover in the horizon and secondly, that people feel secure in their jobs as it is unusual for anyone to be fired without a very clear cause. 3. What applies mostly in the organization is that there is coordination achieved through cooperation and collaboration between individuals and among teams as well, and that managers keep their word when they agree to do something