Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) Practice Test

Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes what key principle?

1. Limiting employee involvement

2. Immediate results over quality

3. Continuous improvement and customer focus

4. Reducing costs over improving quality

The correct answer is: Continuous improvement and customer focus

Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes the principle of continuous improvement and customer focus as its cornerstone. This approach advocates for ongoing efforts to enhance products, services, and processes to meet and exceed customer expectations. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, organizations encourage all employees to be involved in identifying areas for enhancement and implementing changes that boost quality. Customer focus is integral to TQM, as it prioritizes understanding and fulfilling customer needs and preferences. This dual focus on improvement and customer satisfaction aligns with the goal of consistently delivering high-quality outcomes. Organizations practicing TQM aim for systemic changes that lead to long-term benefits rather than short-lived results, reinforcing the importance of sustainable quality over quick fixes.