Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that hinders the implementation of Quality Management Systems(QMS)in selected Public Health Laboratories. The study population was from the targeted seven accredited Public Health Laboratories in Botswana. Data on critical success factors and their respective elements was collected using a questionnaire. The questions were based on the critical success factors for implementation of total quality management identified during the literature review. Ten Critical Success Factors were rated by a group of questions using a five point Likert scale method. Strongly agree was assigned a score of 5, agree is assigned a score of 4, neutral is assigned a score of 3, disagree is assigned a score of 2 and strongly disagree a score of 1. The mean of the assigned ratings is 3.0. Critical success factors which score mean greater than 3.0 will be classified as agree while those mean less than 3.0 will be classified as disagree. All the ten success factors were deemed critical but four of the critical factors had elements that were regarded as barriers to QMS implementation. The ten critical success factors identified were;Employee empowerment Strategic quality planning, Process management, Performance management, Quality culture, Management and leadership, Training, Supplier Management, Customer focus and Information analysis. On the contrary, four critical success factors had elements that scored less than 3.5 mean, so the elements were regarded as barriers to QMS implementation; Effective communication between management and employees, Staff compensation not linked to achieving quality goals, Employees are rewarded for their performance and Employees not taking part in evaluating suppliers.

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