Organisational Social Capital and Team Collaboration as Supports for Total Quality Management

Abstrak

This article develops a conceptual discussion of social capital and team collaboration in Total Quality Management within organisations. It explains how trust, internal networks, and social cohesion support a shared orientation toward continuous improvement in daily work. Trust is described as a condition that enables open communication about process weaknesses and failures without excessive fear of blame. Organisational networks, both formal and informal, are presented as channels through which knowledge, experience, and improvement ideas circulate across units. Social cohesion within teams strengthens collective responsibility for quality goals and provides emotional support when improvement projects require extra effort or encounter setbacks. The paper argues that Total Quality Management succeeds when technical tools and procedures are embedded in a relational environment characterised by reliability, mutual respect, and willingness to learn together. By articulating the links between social capital, collaborative work, and quality-oriented culture, the article offers a conceptual frame that can guide future empirical studies and inform managers who seek to nurture sustainable quality improvement in their organisations.