The Impact of Total Quality Management Practices on Quality of Programs in Palestinian Technical Colleges رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The research’s main objective is to explore and examine the impact of the Total Quality Management (TQM) practices and philosophy on the quality of programs in Palestinian Technical Colleges (TCs). To achieve this, a quantitative hypothesis testing research approach was utilized. Based on a sample of 341 employees in Palestinian TCs in the West Bank & Gaza Strip, primary data were collected by generating and designing an electronic questionnaire. The designed questionnaire is based on the TQM methodology and consists of four parts. The first part is related to the respondent`s characteristics. The second part is related to TQM dimensions (Beneficiary Satisfaction, Continuous Improvement, Employees Satisfaction, Infra-Structure, and Process Management). The third part is related to the quality system in TCs, and the last part is related to the quality of programs in TCs. A fivepoint Likert scale was used to respond to the questionnaire questions. Both SPSS and Smart-PLS programs were used to analyze the data by applying descriptive, nonparametric tests, and structural equation modeling techniques. The data were used for assessment of both measurements model (convergent and discriminant validity) and structural model (coefficient of determination (R²), predictive relevance (Q2), effect size (f2), path coefficient (β values), and Path Significant (p-value). Based on the findings, there is a positive relationship between TQM and the quality of programs in Palestinian TCs. The model reveals that governance & leadership, process management, beneficiary satisfaction, and continuous improvement have a stronger impact v on the TQM. Simultaneously, the last two variables (employee satisfaction and infrastructure) are also significant but less than the mentioned ones. This research contributes to practices by provides insights to top management in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHE) to adopt a TQM module to assess and enhance the quality level in Palestinian TCs. Moreover, the research contributes to theory on how to measure quality by developing a holistic view in which it integrates the main TQM practices in a holistic conceptual model to measure and asses the quality in Palestinian TCs. Some main recommendations are introduced, such as improving and enhancing the TQM culture among the employees in the TCs. The continuous improvement, employee satisfaction, and infra-structure variables should be given more attention in order to improve the TQM practices in Palestinian TCs. The geographical distance between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, generalization of results, and the Covid-19 pandemic were the main limitations. Future research is recommended to evaluate and assess the programs' quality in Palestinian TCs from other stakeholders' perspectives than the employees, such as students, parents, and experts. Also, future researchers are invited to assess and investigate the quality of programs in Palestinian TCs from viewpoints of other stakeholders such as local community and operators