An investigation into applicability of TQM to audit firms in Singapore.

• Main Authors: Chua, Celina., Ong, Ai Sin., Yong, Hui Meng.
• Other Authors: Nanyang Business School
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::Auditing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/51895
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Quality is a major factor for achieving commercial success. A quality culture that permeates the entire company constitutes competitive edge in the present-day-business arena. Increasing emphasis on quality has Ied to the spread ofimerest in Total Quality Management (TQM) as a way of improving company’s quality standard. With a more discerning market-place, TQM has gone beyond being just a phenomenon. Now, it is a movement spreading from production-oriented organisations to the service industry in Singapore. Despite its importance and diffusion in the service industry, it is not known how extensively TQM is embraced by local audit firms. No empirical studies have been conducted to analyze the development ofTQM in audit firms in Singapore. This research study is therefore undertaken to fill this void in the literature by providing an exploratory study on the development ofTQM in local audit firms. The research methodology for this Applied Research Project relies primarily on interviews and a questionaire survey, featuring questions pertaining to the practice of TQM principles among audit firms and their understanding and perceptions of TQM. The investigations seem to indicate that audit firms do have a Quality Management system. The evidence ofthe study seems to suggest that local audit firms are not lacking in the commitment to TQM procedures. The issue of feasibility of obtaining ISO 9000 certification was also investigated and the survey findings indicate a general consensus among the respondents that the benefit does not justify the cost of pursuing ISO 9000 certification. Future directions for research on this topic are highlighted at the end ofthe study.