Societal and economic changes generate problems with unemployment and decreased public services, in particular in rural areas. Therefore, different solutions to the problems are of interest to policy-makers. In this qualitative study, with data sampling methods chiefly in the form of interviews and questionnaires, the results show that values, methodologies and tools from Total Quality Management (TQM) are applicable to community issues, especially when establishing cooperation between residents, authorities, business, and other organizations. Based on these results, a cooperation model for the third sector based on Total Quality Management is presented. The model consists of a proposal for organizing improvement work seen from two so-called dimensions.

The current problems in the European Union with unemployment and cut-backs in the public sector might require initiatives within the social economy and the third sector, initiated by private citizens or others. Total Quality Management (TQM) might be a proper methodology for the practical work. Here opinions are presented about two societal development projects, as expressed by local politicians. They find such projects fruitful, and maybe even necessary for improving living conditions in rural areas. The difficulties experienced can be reduced if the improvement work is clearly defined and organised, and if information and communication are improved.

Purpose - Total quality management has seen a tremendous rise of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Aims to question the effectiveness, utility and use of TQM among many people - practitioners, as well as academics. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses the lack of common interpretations of TQM based on literature study. The answer to the question whether TQM is a marvel or malpractice depends on several factors, for instance, in what kinds of organizations TQM is applied, what interpretation of TQM is made, and what input the theorists and practitioners have, i.e. their earlier environment, culture and values. Often respondents and opponents use the same word but mean different things. Findings - TQM should not be rejected as a whole if one or even, many applications fail. TQM should, however, be applied with considerable consideration of the specifics of the target organization, the purpose of the organization, and the purpose of applying TQM. Originality/value - The paper emphasizes the lack of common interpretations of TQM.

An increasing number of communities use total quality management (TQM) concepts, traditionally connected with business and industry, for societal development. An outstanding example in Sweden is the community of Aseda, where non-profit organisations, companies, and the public sector collaborate to break negative trends, mainly with the help of typical TQM methodologies. This paper presents a study of the effects experienced by a selection of residents, being one part of a larger study of TQM as a support for societal development. It shows that the general effects are experienced as positive, and so are all the detailed ones, having to do with wellbeing in Aseda. A general conclusion is therefore that these respondents are highly motivated for societal improvement work, although with a realistic view on what has been achieved so far

Current problems with unemployment and the consequences of cut-down in the public sector need appropriate solutions, where private citizens perhaps take on more active roles than today, individually or in groups. The aim with this doctoral thesis is to contribute to one such solution, which is a cooperation model for societal development in local communities, based on Total Quality Management (TQM) and on the participation of many residents. The model is gradually developed with the help of collected experiences and opinions from three stakeholder groups in two different Swedish communities, as well as from general theories and literature. These groups are the quality-project initiators, the community residents and the local politicians. The disposition of the thesis is accordingly. The thesis contains two case studies. The first one concerns the use of TQM as a support of societal development in a local community. The improvement work is conducted within a non-profit organisation built on voluntary engagement. These experiences have then been compared, in the second case study, to the ones in another community where TQM is not used, but where the ambitions are the same. Here the framework for the improvement work is both a non-profit organisation and a for-profit one. The analyses indicate that TQM can be used with success within societal development, even if some of its tools or methodologies are interpreted in new ways, or not used at all. As TQM should be applied with regard to the type of organisation and its purpose, a certain flexibility is both expected and helpful. As far as management is concerned, the leadership needs to be “softer” and more diplomatic when managing unpaid volunteers, as compared to the situation in a commercial enterprise. Another observation is that the societal work is best conducted within groups, defined by situations or activities in life or in the society. An active resident can join a group according to interest. This is a modified version of the “quality circles” inherent to TQM. In a separate, and more theoretical study, the issue of adopting TQM to new sectors in society is discussed. In both the studied societies, there are difficulties to get residents involved or active, which puts into question the mandate with a large community project that aims at improving the quality of life for all residents. There are also difficulties with finding and renewing the leadership, and with communication with, above all, local politicians. Nevertheless, these politicians are in general positive to private initiatives like the ones in the two communities, and consider such projects very important for the future development of rural areas. They think that the experienced weaknesses can be reduced if the improvement work is distinctly defined and organised, if information and communication improve, and if the active residents become more educated about the procedures and limitations of the political governing of the communities. These and other observations of the two communities lead to a model where a cooperation between societal stakeholders develop in three phases; the start-up, the establishment and the continuation of the work. Each phase is discussed separately, and advice is given how to avoid, or meet, various problems that are likely to appear along the way.

Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy traditionally connected with business, and industry. Today's society is complex but with a strong connection between business, public and private spheres. One example is the impact that negative economic and demographic trends have on communities. Implementing improvements can also be a way of improving life in a local community by its residents. There are communities that have transferred parts of the TQM philosophy to community issues. The outstanding example in Sweden is the community of Åseda. Here, non-profit organizations, companies and the public sector have collaborated. They have established common core values, worked with quality methodologies, and achieved positive results during the last few years. The residents are organized in a form of improvement groups, working according to the PDSA cycle, and covering all situations a resident might be confronted with in a community. In this paper, results from a study of the experiences from Åseda are presented. The author discusses how the work is organized and how residents in the community work with improvements, and also illustrates the experienced benefits and difficulties. Some indicators for successfully implementing TQM on community issues have been observed and are presented, such as the roles of leadership and of the improvement groups.

This thesis is a case study of how Total Quality Management (TQM) is used in the Åseda community in southern Sweden, in order to support societal development. The improvement work is conducted within a third sector association built on voluntary engagement. TQM is a concept that traditionally has been connected with business life, commercial and industrial organisations for manufacturing and production. The focus has been on, e.g., more effective processes, lower costs and more satisfied customers. However, TQM has become an independent discipline, and is now extended to involve quality of life. Improvement work is not only limited to workplaces, it can also be a way of improving life in local societies by the residents themselves through collaboration. Traditional TQM models and strategies for implementations are carried out to fit organisations and their activities in a workplace, in the commercial and public sectors. Other areas, such as, third sector organisations, could also benefit from adopting TQM concepts. However, the transfer of the TQM methodologies and tools to new environments with different cultures is not necessarily conducted without problems. Therefore, it is essential to map how TQM is used when applied to the third sector, including strengths, weaknesses, and other experiences. It is important to connect conducted empirical research with theory in order to develop the theory. TQM is still in the early stage of such a theoretical development. TQM in this thesis is considered to be a management system for continuous improvements, containing values, methodologies and tools. In this thesis a qualitative case study of a non-profit organisation in a Swedish community is conducted. The study describes strengths, weaknesses and other experiences from applying TQM in a non-profit organisation in the third sector, with the aim of supporting societal development. The association, "Progressive Åseda", is working with concepts from TQM, although the participants consider it difficult to apply TQM concepts to daily life. Core values have been developed and some methodologies are applied. A more general conclusion is that the concept of TQM, and its methodologies and tools, can be difficult to apply in full if the users are not trained. There are needs for education and training in the groups, but also of the new leaders of the association. The analysis indicates that the leadership in Åseda's work with TQM needs to be "soft" and diplomatic when managing unpaid persons and volunteers. A second indicator is that the improvement work is structured through improvement groups, which are part of the constituted association. The groups and their work are appreciated by both members of the improvement groups and the leaders as successful and important. Among the effects experienced by local business representatives the most obvious one is that well-being and ease among Åseda's residents have increased. The common activities, and the collaboration in Åseda between companies, organisations, private persons and politicians, have also increased. Based on theory and the experiences from the study a three-phase tentative model is suggested for organising improvement work in a non-profit association.