Total quality management in the West, East and Russia: Are we different?

Abstract

The article is devoted to an analysis of the main differences and similarities in total quality management (TQM) practice in Western, Russian and Asian companies. Analytical results are based on comparative studies of data collected in 12 countries, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Australia, India, Sweden, England and New Zealand, in the 1990s. It is shown in the study that Western and Asian companies have more in common between them than with Russian companies. Russia is standing a bit aside in terms of state-of-the-art leadership style, presenting to some extent double standard ways of running business, inherited from the soviet era. Russian TQM clearly reflects the current transition economy status, but not necessarily inherent national characteristics. Thus, particular emphasis is given in the study to the TQM experience in transitional economies as such, the purpose of this being to point to practical implication in order to help Russian producers and distributors to obtain improved market acceptance and sustainable development.