Total Quality Management Practices and Performance of Rural Electricity Distribution Projects in Kenya

Abstract

Electricity is very important for socio-economic development in a country and to enhance development in the rural areas there is the need to ensure consumer focus is done which may lead to quality services in electricity distribution projects. Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach for organization which has customer focus and aim at quality products/services in most projects. This  study  has an objective of determining the influence of total quality management (TQM) practices on the performance of electricity distribution projects in rural areas in  Kenya which can increase electricity access, increase capacity power transfers, reduce system losses and still increase  enhanced connectivity. The TQM has many principles and literature review used in this study is based on four practices: Knowledge of the process approach, continuous improvement, Employee empowerment, top management empowerment and the methodology used is in-depth review of the literature on total quality management practices on performances. In Kenya, Rural Electrification Authority(REA) completes the projects and hands it over to Kenya power and Lightening Company(KPLC) for operations and maintenance based on the service level of agreement (SLA). The study will collect data from the employees of REA and KPLC employees in the Kitui County and use questionnaire to collect data which was analyzed through descriptive and inferential analysis.  The study will use factor analysis model .From previous research the finding shows that the variables had a positive significant and strong relationship between TQM and the performance of organizations