Effect of Employee Participation on the Adoption of Total Quality Management by Multinational Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A Case of General Motors East Africa Limited
Abstract
The study examined the effect of employee participation on the adoption of total quality management by multinational firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study focused on multinational firms in Kenya that have adopted Total Quality Management using a case study of General Motors East Africa to determine the effect of employee participation in the adoption of Total Quality Management. The study utilized a descriptive research design. The population for this study constituted all 326 employees and a sample of 176 was used as respondents. Questionnaires were used to obtain quantitative and qualitative data for analysis which was further validated pilot study. Information was sorted, coded and input into the statistical package for social sciences for production of graphs, tables, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. A multiple odd ratio regression model was used to test the significance of the influence of the independent variables on the dependent variable. The study found that team cohesiveness had a significant effect on adoption of total quality management, consultative committees had a significant effect on adoption of total quality, employee innovation had a significant effect on adoption of total quality management and employee shareholding had a significant effect on adoption of total quality management by multinational firms in Kenya. The study recommends that team be encouraged for better decision making, better customer delivery and creates job satisfaction among the employee. Consultative committee should meet regularly on staff matters, diversity in committee meetings be tolerated and cherished. Employee innovative ideas should be well natured to improved product development, quality production, application techniques, and operational efficiency.
Keywords: Total Quality Management, Employee Participation, Team Cohesiveness, Consultative Committees, Employee Innovation, Employee Shareholding, Multinational Firms and General Motors East Africa
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