Total Quality Management

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a set of management principles that places quality at the heart of everything a business does. Every employee must do every aspect of their job to the highest possible standard in order to achieve high customer satisfaction.

Quality focus

TQM is a culture of quality that ensures quality in production, sales and after-sales customer service.

Costly

TQM is often very beneficial for an organisation, but it can be expensive. It can mean training the employees in the principles and making sure they embrace the culture.
- Businesses like Casper mattresses offer a free 100 night trial on their products because they are confident that their product quality is good and that consumers will like their mattresses.

Customer feedback

TQM values customer feedback highly in order to keep improving the product.
Through this, the organisation aims to keep improving and producing products of the highest standard to give customers the best experience possible.

Benefits of Maintaining High Product/Service Quality

High quality can lead to additional sales. If firms compete on quality (as well as price) then keeping quality high could increase a firm’s sales. They may attract more new customers and existing customers may be more satisfied and buy the product again.

Image/reputation

When customers are satisfied with a product’s quality, they view the business and the brand as being a high quality brand.
This positive reputation can win more customers and let the company charge a higher price.

Higher price

Having a high quality product means that a business is able to charge customers more for the product.
Customers are often willing to pay a premium for a good product. Consumers pay a lot of money for Apple products like the MacBook laptop computer and the iPhone because they are perceived as very high quality.
Being able to charge a higher price means a firm is able to earn more profit (providing the costs of TQM aren’t too much).

Avoid product recalls

If a business has a high quality product, it is unlikely to have to recall it for quality or safety issues, like Volkswagen did with their cars in 2015.

Costs of Maintaining High Quality/Service

There are some costs of maintaining higher quality products and services:

Inspection costs

There are costs associated with inspecting and identifying quality problems throughout the production process.

Staff training

It costs firms money to train employees and get them to embrace a culture of quality (TQM).

Provision of services

Providing services like customer service to ensure high quality will cost the business money.

1Enterprise & Entrepreneurship

1.1The Dynamic Nature of Businesses

1.1.1The Dynamic Nature of Businesses

1.1.2Risk & Reward

1.1.3The Role of Business Enterprise

1.1.4The Role of Business Enterprise 2

1.1.5The Role of the Entrepreneur

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Dynamic Nature of Business

1.1.7Grade 9 - Dynamic Nature of Business

1.2Spotting a Business Opportunity

1.2.1Customer Needs

1.2.2Market Research

1.2.3Market Segmentation

1.2.4The Competitive Environment

1.2.5Primary & Secondary Market Research

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Business Opportunities

1.2.7Application Questions - Business Opportunities

1.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Market Segmentation

1.3Putting a Business Idea into Practice

1.3.1Business Aims

1.3.2Business Objectives

1.3.3Business Revenues & Costs

1.3.4Costs - Calculations

1.3.5Revenue - Calculations

1.3.6Business Profits & Break-Even Analysis

1.3.7Profits & Losses - Calculations

1.3.8Interest - Calculations

1.3.9Cash & Cash Flow

1.3.10Cash & Cash Flow 2

1.3.11Cash Flow - Calculations

1.3.12Sources of Business Finance

1.3.13End of Topic Test - Business in Practice

1.3.14Grade 9 - Business in Practice

1.3.15Exam-Style Questions - Business in Practice

1.4Making the Business Effective

1.4.1The Options for Start-Up & Small Businesses

1.4.2Limited Liability

1.4.3Franchising & Not-For-Profits

1.4.4Business Location

1.4.5The Marketing Mix

1.4.6Business Plans

1.4.7End of Topic Test - Effective Business

1.4.8Application Questions - Effective Business

1.4.9Exam-Style Questions - Business Plans

1.5Business Stakeholders

1.5.1Business Stakeholders

1.5.2Technology & Business

1.5.3Legislation & Business

1.5.4Legislation & Business 2

1.5.5The Economy & Business

1.5.6External Influences

1.5.7End of Topic Test - Business Stakeholders

1.5.8Grade 9 - Business Stakeholders

2Building a Business

2.1Growing the Business

2.1.1Business Growth

2.1.2Finance

2.1.3Changes in Business Aims & Globalisation

2.1.4Ethics & Business

2.1.5The Environment & Business

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Growing a Business

2.1.7Application Questions - Growing a Business

2.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Business Growth

2.2Making Marketing Decisions

2.2.1Product

2.2.2Product Life Cycle

2.2.3Price

2.2.4Pricing Methods

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Product & Price

2.2.6Grade 9 - Product & Price

2.2.7Promotion & Advertising

2.2.8PR & Sales Promotions

2.2.9Sponsorship & Product Placement

2.2.10Promotional Mix

2.2.11End of Topic Test - Promotion

2.2.12Application Questions - Promotion

2.2.13Exam-Style Questions - Promotional Mix

2.2.14Place & Wholesalers

2.2.15Direct to Consumer

2.2.16E-commerce & M-commerce

2.3Making Operational Decisions

2.3.1Job Production

2.3.2Batch & Flow Production

2.3.3Working with Suppliers

2.3.4Effective Supply Chains

2.3.5Just In Time & Just In Case

2.3.6Managing Quality

2.3.7Total Quality Management

2.3.8The Sales Process

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Operational Decisions

2.3.10Grade 9 - Operational Decisions

2.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Managing Stock

2.4Making Financial Decisions

2.4.1Gross Profit & Net Profit - Definitions

2.4.2Gross Profit - Calculations

2.4.3Net Profit - Calculations

2.4.4Rate of Return

2.4.5Rate of Return - Calculations

2.4.6Research & Financial Data

2.4.7Marketing Data

2.4.8Percentage Change - Calculations

2.5Making Human Resource Decisions

2.5.1Organisational Structures

2.5.2Organisational Structures 2

2.5.3Recruitment

2.5.4Effective Recruitment

2.5.5Training a Workforce

2.5.6Motivating a Workforce

2.5.7End of Topic Tests - Human Resources

2.5.8Application Questions - Human Resources

2.5.9Exam-Style Questions - Human Resources

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