Quantitative methods focuses on data-based decision-making, rather than intuition or guessing and includes the use of statistical methods of measurement. Systems thinking means optimizing the entire system rather than just changing one area. Empowerment involves everyone in the organization taking active roles to identify change opportunities and ensure the system changes are permanent and sustainable. Most importantly, TQM is about systemic change. Table 1 lists the fourteen key points identified by Deming as necessary for Total Quality Management (Cotton, 1994).
Actual Applications in Education.
When surveying the literature, there were numerous examples where TQM was delivering results in the academic environment. George Westinghouse High School in New York initiated a quality improvement process that decreased the dropout rate from 7.8 percent to 5.3 percent compared to the district average of 17.2% despite losing 21.2% of its faculty, an example of TQM applied to an urban, primarily minority school (Siegel and Byrne, 1994 pg. 16). Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska is a public residential school who applied Deming's philosophies to restructure their entire approach to classroom instruction, receiving national recognition as a model school for the implementation of TQM (Cotton, 1994). Regional School District 14 in Woodbury, Connecticut used quality improvement to reduce the percentage of students needing remedial services in mathematics from 16% to 1%, and in reading from 17% to 5%. Students applied what they learned about quality tools and methods to eliminate cafeteria losses, representing a $100,000 turn-around for the school. These are just a sample of the numerous examples detailed in references.
Common Themes for Success.
Surprisingly, there is not one best way to implement TQM. Every example cited approached the application from a different angle and with different emphasis, focused on their particular situation and defined needs and priorities.
