Abstract

The adoption of Total Quality Management has produced many success stories, but discussions of how to adopt TQM often overlook the special needs of small, high-technology companies. This oversight has led many managers of these companies to conclude that TQM is too cumbersome, bureaucratic. expensive, and complex for them to use. TQM is essential to the long-term viability of small companies but must be adopted in a manner consistent with their special needs. This article discusses these needs and presents specific suggestions about how to successfully adopt TQM in small, high-technology companies.