Establishing relationship between TQM practices and building contractors' performance in Tanzania.

This empirical study examined the establishing relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM) practices and Building contractors performance in Tanzania. This is an effort to device strategies intended to improve the performance of Tanzanian construction firms in terms of quality, cost and time (schedule) by best use of TQM practices. An in depth literature review to identify key TQM practices and contractors' performance critical for the success of construction firms was undertaken. Literature advocating for existence of a positive relationship between TQM practices and contractors' projects performance was also explored. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 150 clients, consultants and building contractors. Of the 150 questionnaires distributed, a total of 107 were returned and used to test the conceptual framework. The structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was used to examine the relationships. The findings suggest that TQM practices significantly and positively relates to all constructs or scale measures of building contractors' performance although the magnitude of relationship vary from one construct (measure) to another. It therefore suggests that achievement of one aspect or measure of TQM practice or performance could impact the other. It was therefore recommended for building contractors and other stakeholders in Tanzania to implement TQM practices to improve quality, cost and time (schedule) performance in their projects.