Alignment of Reward and Recognition Programs with Organizational Strategies for Effective Total Quality Management

Quality Function Management and TQM

April 10, 2009

Total Quality Management (TQM) as a management philosophy emphasizes the importance of meeting and exceeding customer (internal or external) expectations through the continuous quality improvements. To achieve competitive advantage, total quality organizations develop and establish goals, plans, and policies. Employees are internal customers of organizations, the efforts of which are directed towards meeting the expectations of external customers (Chang, 2005). Employees are valuable assets of organizations whose knowledge, skills, and performance impact the overall performance and success of organizations (Boon et al., 2007). Studies have demonstrated that in the era of globalization, increasing competition, and re-organization, employees not only work for gaining profits but also search for organizations that acknowledge and celebrate their achievements and efforts (Campbell-Allen, Houston & Mann, 2008). The data from “World at Work” surveys has demonstrated that being dissatisfied with employers, in 2003, approximately one-third of employees were considering other jobs while by early 2007, over 54% of employees were poised to leave for other job alternatives (Huff, 2007). P. B. Crosby stated that “people really don’t work for money. They go to work for it, but once the salary has been established, their concern is appreciation” (Knouse, 1995). To ensure internal customer satisfaction, the total quality management organizations have launched programs for recognizing and rewarding efforts and accomplishments of their personnel. The reward and recognition programs, constituting monetary or non-monetary means for rewarding and recognizing employee achievements and efforts, revolve