Alien or Ally

Points out that total quality management is being adopted by a number of universities and colleges, but the meaning of the phrase varies from institution to institution. Distinguishes four applications and then goes on to explore the managerial implications of TQM in the context of the application to higher education of the imperatives of new public management. Concludes that our understanding of quality has changed as new managerial techniques have been introduced, and argues that a sympathetic introduction of TQM principles can help to reinforce academic quality and values through changing expectations among higher education′s stakeholders.