rocess of continuous improvement (Gharajedaghi, 1994).
While TQM is being adapted in the U.S., it was truly defined in Japan as an improvement to mass production techniques. Sullivan (1986) defines seven stages of quality in Japan. In order of increasing level of quality, they are: product oriented, process oriented, systems oriented, humanistic, society oriented, cost oriented, and quality function deployment (Sullivan, 1995).
Although a few American TQM practitioners have probably attained mature systems level quality, the majority are still struggling with the implementation of stages 1 and 2. Also, with the American win/lose philosophy currently in vogue within business process reengineering, it is obvious that American TQM, on the average, has not reached stage 4, humanism (Hammer and Champy, 1993).
The roots of humanism within TQC can be traced to the 1940s with probable maturity by the mid 1970s. Morita notes that when the predecessor to Sony Corporation was founded, co-founder Ibuka established the company philosophy by stating:
If it were possible to establish conditions where persons could become united with a firm spirit of teamwork and exercise to their hearts' desire their technological capacity, then
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