| This study examined a school district's efforts to improve by using Total Quality Management principles and Quality Award criteria and audits. The study focused on the district's leadership, strategic planning, and student/stakeholder focus and satisfaction viewed from the perspectives of the stakeholders, community members, and the review of the examiners for the 1994 New York Governor's Excelsior Award and the 1995 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Education Pilot Study. This study examined similarities and differences in perception between the two groups of examiners and district administrators.; In recent years the use of the term TQM has diminished. This study; however, determined that the basic principles underlying TQM; such as strong leadership, communication, collaboration, teaming relationships, customer focus, data collection and analysis, and continuous improvement have transcended the TQM concept. These principles were critical to the success of the quality initiatives taken by the school district.; The review of the examiners' and the district administrators' reports found that the Excelsior site visit reported significantly better developed quality systems than the administrators stated in their Excelsior application. The comparison of the district's Excelsior and Baldrige reports found the Excelsior report was more positive. The Baldrige assessment agreed strongly with the district's self-assessment in the area of leadership, there was less agreement with the perceptions of district administrators in the areas of strategic planning and student/stakeholder focus. |
