What is a foundational principle of Total Quality Management (TQM)?

The foundational principle of Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes that quality is both measurable and crucial for the success of an organization. TQM is a comprehensive management approach that seeks to improve quality across all aspects of an organization's operations, fostering a culture where quality is a shared responsibility among all employees. By making quality measurable, organizations can set specific performance benchmarks, track improvements, and implement necessary adjustments based on data-driven insights. This approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also leads to reduced costs, increased efficiency, and better outcomes overall.

Measurable quality metrics enable health care institutions to assess various outcomes and processes, facilitating continuous improvement initiatives. This alignment with TQM's goals ensures that organizations can pursue excellence systematically and consistently.

In contrast, the other options contradict the essential tenets of TQM, which aims to shift the focus from individual performance to collective responsibility and engagement in quality improvement efforts.