Total quality management (TQM) is an approach to improving business effectiveness and flexibility by involving all departments and employees. The primary objective of TQM is to meet customer requirements and ensure continuous quality improvement. It encourages innovation, motivates employees, and provides a competitive advantage through a shared purpose. TQM requires being customer-focused, avoiding defects, continuous improvement, changing attitudes toward quality, communication, training, measurement, management involvement, teamwork, and organizing by process rather than function. Reasons for TQM failure include lack of management commitment or interest over time, disagreement over needed changes, and not establishing measures to track progress.