A cross-cultural comparison of top management personality for TQM implementation

Top management is the most important single entity in the implementation of cultural and philosophical changes within an organization. This study investigated the effects of top management personality on the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) across two very diverse cultures, Taiwan and the USA. We used the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to classify top management personality types. Surveys were then performed to study the relationship between top management personality and TQM practices in these two countries. Several factors (commitment to training, time of implementation and management philosophical approach) believed to be critical to TQM implementation were also tested. The results indicated that top managers in both countries with specific personality types are associated with organizational environments that exhibit characteristics conducive to TQM.