Applicability of total quality management in the public sector (Example of undersecretariat for Maitime Affaris)

In these days which is felt that competition is very intensive and that trade borders are becoming uncertain owing to globalization, quality has been an indispensable competition advantage for enterprises. Competition requires that organizations should improve quality in all branches. The latest management technique which refers comprehensive to the subject of quality is Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM including positive principles such as continuous progress, innovation, participation, human-orientedness has very wide range of administration area in the world. TQM is proposed for private sector as well as public sector which doesn't aim for competition and profit. In the globalizing world, as result of increasing communication, citizens who are transforming into the customers of government have started to discuss the ponderous, unproductive and inefficient operation of public management. Western countries are making TQM prevalent among public establishments day by day, which increases efficiency of actirities governed by public sector and whose success has been shown by private sector using it for a long time. Even if there are criticisms that TQM can't be applied in public establishment because of legal, practical and traditional problems which are faced in the applications, the argument that TQM is encouraging for public establishments is very prevalent. However problems, including the existence of political assigments, the lack of the system of awarding system depending on performance criteria, not having workers devolved sufficiently, public opinion, the lack of efficient wage system in public establishment will effect the success of TQM in the public sector. In this study, the consept of quality and total quality management first are mentioned. After revailing the organizational structure this study points out the necessity of putting TQM into practice in public establishments and related problems. For this reason survey has been carried out in a central public establishment in Ankara and its result are declared in the fourth section. Morever in the end of the study, an evaluation has been made in the light of data collected from the survey. IX