CONTRASTING PARADIGMS AND MOVEMENTS - SYSTEMS-THEORY AND TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

This paper compares Systems Thinking and Total Quality Management as s ocial movements. In seeking to change the paradigm by which decision m akers examine the domain in which they operate, both the Systems Movem ent and Quality Movement have experienced evolutionary paths not unlik e that associated with social movements. And as with many social movem ents, the adherents of both have experienced problems in gaining wides pread acceptance of their new paradigm. Their chief advocates and move ment adherents have failed to see their undertaking as a social moveme nt and their role as social movement leaders: 1. a failure to inspire people to take risks; 2. a failure to make the movement message simple and understandable; 3. a failure to develop methods for dealing with the forces for the status quo.