Which of the following is a consequence of poor adherence to TQM principles?

Adherence to Total Quality Management (TQM) principles is essential for fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement within an organization. When there is poor adherence to TQM, one of the significant consequences is minimal involvement of management. This lack of engagement from management can hinder the implementation of quality initiatives and discourage employees from taking ownership of their work processes.

In TQM, management is expected to lead by example and actively participate in fostering a culture of quality. Poor adherence can lead to a disconnect between management and staff, resulting in a decline in supervision, support, and communication regarding quality objectives. As a result, initiatives aimed at improving quality and efficiency may falter, leading to stagnation in progress and growth for the organization.

This is in stark contrast to the other options, such as enhanced employee morale, increased organizational efficiency, and improvement in service quality, which are all positive outcomes associated with effective TQM practices. In the absence of proper management involvement, an organization is less likely to achieve these benefits, illustrating the critical role that leadership plays in the TQM framework.