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Total quality management (TQM) is still a new issue for the organisations in Yemen. These organisations need to establish a new strategy towards quality management. Focuses on the difficulties and barriers to the introduction and implementation of TQM in such a culture. The researcher draws on two case study organisations and on the activities proposed by the European excellence model to exemplify TQM. Time was spent explaining these activities to the people involved and was followed by a discussion of the difficulties. By the end of this process the researcher came out with several points to be considered under each activity for the aim of improving the organisations in Yemen and when embarking on implementation of TQM. Other issues include the need for proactive government support, for better technical understanding of TQM, and for a change in organisational culture.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the TQM readiness level of Yemeni Organizations. In addition, this study compares the level of readiness between the various Yemeni organizations.

Based on the TQM literature, related and relevant information had been gathered to develop an assessment tool used in this research. The main content of the assessment focused on statements related to the most common TQM principles. Data were collected by an assessment team and analyzed using quantitative methods to answer the related research questions.

The analysis results showed some of the TQM principles were being practiced by Yemeni organizations, to some extent, and with variant levels. The most widely practiced principle was customer focus, and the lowest principle practiced was continuous improvement. Also, the data showed the level of TQM readiness in Yemeni organizations was 58.93 percent. This level of TQM readiness indicates there is a potential for successful adoption of quality management standards and models in Yemeni organizations.

This study extends previous limited research in TQM readiness level measurement. It also adds to the body of TQM knowledge within the context of Yemen. In addition, this study contributes to the understanding of TQM implementation in an least developed countries (LDC) environment, where LDC organizational culture has its particularities on implementing TQM.

This paper contributes to a better understanding of TQM in an LDC country, which is Yemen. The paper points out which of the TQM principles are important to potential adoption of quality management standards and models. This study could further expand research, regarding the TQM in Yemen.