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TQM in Orem, Utah: responsive agency, satisfied customers
Author(s) -
Chesnut Bruce W.,
Buckwalter Doyle W.,
Parsons Robert J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1994.tb06258.x
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , total quality management , government (linguistics) , quality (philosophy) , corporate governance , business , public relations , economic shortage , public participation , public administration , voting , political science , marketing , sociology , law , finance , service (business) , social science , linguistics , philosophy , epistemology , politics
In Orem, Utah, total quality management techniques have helped to improve water management and encourage conservation. De Tocqueville said the success of the American experiment depended on the quality of citizen involvement in governance. Today, public participation in governmen—other than voting—involves a minuscule fraction of the citizenry, and an adversarial relationship often exists between citizens and government. Total quality management (TQM) offers citizens and public officials a way to open the lines of communication and improve municipal conditions. In Orem, Utah, a water shortage and restrictions led to a year‐long communitywide planning and educational process that incorporated TQM principles. Public opinion of water managers has improved, and local citizens are now educated about water management. Orem has not further restricted water use despite the drought that has continued since 1986.