Influence of TQM Practices on Job Satisfaction at Bost Private University, Southwestern Afghanistan

Abstract

This study examined the impacts of key Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on employee job satisfaction at Bost Private University, a leading higher education institution in southwestern Afghanistan. Employing a cross-sectional research design and data collected from 120 academic and non-academic staff, the study examined five key TQM dimensions: top management commitment, education and training, customer focus, organizational culture, and teamwork. Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that education and training, top management commitment, and teamwork had significant positive impacts on employee job satisfaction, with education and training emerging as the strongest predictors. In contrast, customer focus and organizational culture showed no statistically significant impact. These results underscore the importance of leadership involvement, continuous staff development, and collaborative work environments in fostering a satisfied and motivated workforce. The study offers practical implications for university administrators and policymakers, especially in resource-constrained settings, by highlighting which TQM practices most effectively contribute to job satisfaction. Limitations include the study’s cross-sectional design, single-institution focus, and reliance on self-reported data. Suggestions for future research include expanding to multiple institutions, incorporating longitudinal and qualitative methods, and exploring additional TQM dimensions. Overall, the study contributes to the growing body of literature on quality management in higher education and provides actionable insights for institutional improvement and employee engagement.