Final answer:
A successful TQM program incorporates continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement, but does not include strict hierarchies.
Step-by-step explanation:
A successful Total Quality Management (TQM) program incorporates several key elements to improve organizational performance. These include continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement.
Continuous improvement refers to the ongoing effort to enhance processes, products, and services through incremental changes. It involves identifying areas for improvement, setting goals, and implementing solutions.
Customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of TQM as it focuses on meeting or exceeding customer expectations. This involves understanding customer needs, delivering high-quality products or services, and providing excellent customer support.
Employee involvement is also essential in TQM as it encourages employees to contribute their ideas, expertise, and skills to improve the organization. It empowers employees to participate in decision-making, problem-solving, and process improvement initiatives.
Strict hierarchies, on the other hand, are not typically associated with a successful TQM program. TQM emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, and decentralized decision-making, rather than strict hierarchies where power and authority are concentrated at the top.