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PROGRAMME: POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

MODULE: PROJECT QUALITY

Total Marks: $70$

QUESTION ONE $[50]$

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

The construction sector is complex, nonlinear, dynamic, and fragmented. Causality is an important characteristic of this sector. The construction industry significantly contributes to the economic growth and social development of developing countries.

Maintaining quality in the construction sector is the rudimentary element for achieving strategic competitiveness, employee empowerment, employee involvement, customer repetition, diminishing rework, continuous improvement, increasing productivity, enhanced budget performance, and comparatively more desirable schedule performance. Different quality management techniques such as total quality management $($TQM$),$ six sigma, top$-$down and bottom$-$up approach, implementation of the international standard organisation codes $($ISO$)$ and Kaizen have been utilised for the management of construction project quality.

TQM is a quality management technique that aims for long term success through customer satisfaction. The main impediments to implementing TQM in developing countries include the absence of top management commitment, inadequate expertise, low bidding contract award concept, undervalued education and training, lack of workers involvement, lack of workers empowerment, rigorous attitude and behaviour, and rigid approach of executives towards a quality management system $($QMS$)$

The contributing challenges of TQM implementation related to the work environment are an unproductive quality system, excessive paperwork, inadequate knowledge of the process requirements, and the high cost of implementing TQM in the construction sector

Regardless of the wider implementation of TQM in many developed countries, construction sectors in developing countries lack quality$-$oriented performance. As a result, most construction projects are prematurely terminated or revised because of quality issues such as incompetent and ineffectual workmanship. Accordingly, the construction sectors of

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developing countries must map out a structural and strategic framework to consider quality standards, quality assurance, quality control, and enactment of TQM to compete with their competitors in developed countries. Such steps would minimise the gaps in terms of construction quality performance in developed and developing countries.

TQM plays a significant role in the business goals and objective achievements of construction organisations. TQM is imperative for the success of organisations focusing on delivering high$-$quality projects. Therefore, implementing TQM in construction promises many benefits.

The construction sector has an inherent complexity. Such complexity presents a key challenge to project managers handling construction projects. Therefore, implementing TQM in the construction sector is challenging. Through TQM implementation in the construction sector, an improvement in organisation status, extensive market share achievement, and more client satisfaction can be achieved. In addition, construction TQM brings forth a conducive work atmosphere where all employees indulge in attaining construction quality performance, pivot on customer delight, and strive to ameliorate the overall efficiency and productivity of the construction projects.

There are various benefits of implementing TQM in construction. However, at the same time, certain barriers impede its adoption in construction. TQM is considered a well$-$regarded approach to managing project quality. It has proven to minimise nonconformity, complexity, and non$-$linearity and achieve distinction. Moreover, rapid development and competition have made $$Quality$$ a strategic tool for increased profit margin and corporate profitability for businesses and companies around the globe.

Construction organisations must promote TQM initiatives to meet customer demands and provide superior value to the customer through the company$$s operations, quality understanding and responses. TQM has been suggested as a means of strategic and competitive edge that can increase productivity and efficiency in the construction sector Organisations following TQM principles gain a strategic market edge over their competitors TQM starts from the top; thus, the workers within the company will exhibit excellent workmanship and higher quality$-$oriented work if the company$$s senior managers have a greater quality$-$oriented approach.

Implementing TQM in the construction centre presents various advantages such as enhanced budget efficiency, customer delight, better workers job contentment, diminished rework, exquisite schedule and budget performance, better procurement and greater participation in the bidding process.

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Implementing TQM in the construction sector presents various advantages such as enhanced budget efficiency, customer delight, better workers$$ job contentment, diminished