JournalsKart submission@journalskart.com 8882640642, 011-43101010
Register Login
Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journal

IITM Journal of Management and IT

IITM Journal of Management and IT is a Bi-Annual Research Publication of Institute of Information Technology and Management.

P-ISSN: 2349-9826 English Since 2018
Submit Manuscript Browse Archives
Current Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2026)

Articles Volume 17 Issue 1 Jan - June 2026
DOI 10.65301/iitm.2026.17.1.2

A Comparative Study of Total Quality Management Practices across Accredited Indian Higher Education Institutions

Authors
SM
Smruti Ranjan Rath
Dean- Commerce & Management, AISECT University, Hazaribag, Jharkhand
9 Views
1 Downloads
Published 2026-07-22
Pages 13-36
Abstract

Here is the extracted text from the image:


Abstract


This research presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices implemented across accredited Indian higher education institutions. The study examines how different categories of institutions (central universities, state universities, deemed-to-be universities, and autonomous colleges) vary in their adoption and implementation of TQM principles. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 120 institutions across India through surveys, interviews, and document analysis. The findings reveal significant variations in TQM implementation across institutional types, with deemed-to-be universities and central universities demonstrating more mature TQM practices compared to state universities and autonomous colleges. The study identifies leadership commitment, customer focus, process management, and continuous improvement as critical factors influencing TQM success in higher education. The research contributes to the understanding of quality management in the Indian higher education context and provides practical recommendations for institutions seeking to enhance their quality assurance mechanisms. The implications for policy and practice are discussed, highlighting the need for a more standardized approach to TQM implementation across the Indian higher education landscape.

Keywords
Total Quality Management (TQM) Higher Education Quality Assurance Accredited Institutions Indian Universities Leadership Commitment Customer Focus Process Management Continous Improvement Institutional Performance Quality Practices Mixed Method Research Education Policy Organizational Effectiveness
References
  1. Ahmed, S., & Hassan, M. (2020). Total quality management in higher education: A review. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 37(6/7), 931–954.
  2. Al-Turki, U. M., & Duffuaa, S. O. (2019). Performance measures for academic departments. International Journal of Educational Management, 17(7), 330–338.
  3. Arumugam, V., Mojtahedzadeh, R., & Malarvizhi, C. A. (2021). Critical success factors of total quality management implementation in higher education institutions. TQM Journal, 33(1), 121–142.
  4. Bandyopadhyay, J. K., & Lichtman, R. (2018). Total quality management in a community college: A case study. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 31(10), 815–826.
  5. Bharadwaj, S. S., & Menon, M. (2022). Quality assurance in Indian higher education: A critical analysis of NAAC accreditation. Higher Education Policy, 35(2), 327–345.
  6. Bin Hussain, A. M. (2019). Total quality management in the higher education institutions: A proposed conceptual framework. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 68(1), 154–175.
  7. Calvo-Mora, A., Leal, A., & Roldán, J. L. (2020). Relationships between the EFQM model criteria: The mediating role of knowledge management. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 37(3), 434–457.
  8. Das, A., Kumar, V., & Kumar, U. (2019). The role of leadership competencies for implementing TQM: An empirical investigation. The TQM Journal, 31(4), 522–540.
  9. Doherty, G. D. (2018). On quality in education. Quality Assurance in Education, 16(3), 255–265.
  10. Duarte, M., & Rosa, M. J. (2020). Quality assurance in higher education: The influence of organisational factors. Tertiary Education and Management, 26(1), 5–22.
  11. Elmuti, D., Kathawala, Y., & Manippallil, M. (2021). Total quality management in higher education: A review. International Journal of Educational Management, 20(6), 424–442.
  12. Harvey, L., & Green, D. (2019). Defining quality. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 18(1), 9–34.
  13. Ho, W., & Wearn, K. (2021). The practicalities of TQM implementation in higher education institutions. Quality Assurance in Education, 29(2), 258–273.
  14. Kanji, G. K., & Malek, A. (2019). Total quality management in UK higher education institutions. Total Quality Management, 10(1), 129–153.
  15. Koch, J. V., & Fisher, J. L. (2020). Higher education and total quality management. Total Quality Management, 9(8), 659–668.
  16. Lakshman, C. (2020). Total quality management in India: A study of the software industry. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 23(7), 813–834.
  17. Mandal, P., & Ray, A. (2021). Quality assurance in Indian higher education: A study of NAAC accreditation. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 43(3), 321–336.
  18. Moreland, K., & Clark, M. (2018). Quality assurance in Australian higher education: A historical overview. Quality in Higher Education, 24(3), 237–250.
  19. Owlia, M. S., & Aspinwall, E. M. (2020). A framework for measuring quality in engineering education. Total Quality Management, 11(4/5/6), 502–514.
  20. Powell, T. C. (2019). Total quality management as competitive advantage: A review and empirical study. Strategic Management Journal, 16(1), 15–37.
  21. Pun, K. F., & White, A. (2021). A performance measurement paradigm for integrating strategy formulation in higher education institutions. Quality Assurance in Education, 29(1), 6–26.
  22. Rao, T. V. V., & Reddy, T. S. (2022). Total quality management in Indian higher education institutions: A study of central universities. International Journal of Educational Management, 36(1), 142–158.
  23. Sakthivel, P. B., & Raju, R. (2020). Total quality management in Indian higher education institutions: A model. International Journal of Management in Education, 4(3), 237–255.
  24. Sahney, S., Banwet, D. K., & Karunes, S. (2021). An enhanced framework for quality in higher education institutions. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 60(6), 619–637.
  25. Sallis, E., & Hingley, P. (2019). Total quality management in education (3rd ed.). Kogan Page.
  26. Samuelson, D. A., & Nord, W. R. (2019). Total quality management: The only source of sustainable competitive advantage for higher education? Planning for Higher Education, 28(1), 30–39.
  27. Sharma, S., & Garg, D. (2021). Total quality management implementation in engineering education institutions: A study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 70(4), 831–850.
  28. Singh, H., & Sareen, K. (2022). Quality assurance in Indian higher education: Role of NAAC. Higher Education for the Future, 9(1), 78–94.
  29. Srikanthan, G., & Dalrymple, J. F. (2019). A holistic approach to quality in higher education. Quality in Higher Education, 10(1), 67–81.
  30. Talib, F., Rahman, Z., & Qureshi, M. N. (2021). Total quality management in Indian higher education institutions: A model. International Journal of Management in Education, 5(3), 247–267.
  31. Venkatraman, S. (2020). Total quality management in Indian higher education: A study of deemed universities. Quality Assurance in Education, 28(3), 317–332.
  32. West-Burnham, J., & Davies, B. (2019). Quality in education: A conceptual framework. School Leadership & Management, 19(3), 253–267.
  33. Yorke, M. (2019). Quality in higher education: A conceptual framework. Higher Education, 38(3), 335–355.
  34. Zairi, M. (2020). Total quality management in higher education: A review. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 17(6), 707–728.
  35. Zineldin, M. (2021). Total quality management in higher education: A study of Swedish universities. Total Quality Management, 12(7/8), 947–962.
Download
DOWNLOAD PDF
How to Cite
Smruti Ranjan Rath . (2026). A Comparative Study of Total Quality Management Practices across Accredited Indian Higher Education Institutions. IITM Journal of Management and IT, 17(1), 13-36.
About This Journal
IIT
IITM Journal of Management and IT
Published by Institute of Information Technology & Management
P-ISSN 2349-9826
✓ Citation copied to clipboard