TQM and BPR: symbiosis and a new approach for integration

Abstract

Total quality management (TQM) and business process re‐engineering (BPR) are two management approaches designed to improve organizational performance and quality. Because of the pace, time required, and initiatives for change, TQM and BPR are regarded as two completely different improvement programmes. They also share common features, which create the basis for a possible integration of TQM and BPR under the endless quality improvement concept. Organizations that can effectively combine TQM and BPR would be very successful in gaining a sustainable competitive advantage. In the context of the system approach, introduces a BPR life cycle model. Answers two main questions: when should a re‐engineering programme be undertaken?; and how long should the period of gradual improvement last before a new re‐engineering programme is implemented? Provides an implementation example of this model through a real organization.