An Integrated TQM–Digital Innovation Framework for Enhancing Organizational Performance: A Data-Driven Evaluation Using EFQM-Based Metrics

Abstract

With the growing pace of digital transformation, organizations have been forced to improve performance and maintain quality excellence. Most of the traditional Total Quality Management (TQM) models, though useful in terms of ongoing improvement and optimization of the process, are not yet integrated with the new digital innovations technology like artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and automation. This work suggests a TQM-Digital Innovation framework that will be integrated and systematically aligned to the principles of quality management and the strategies of digital transformation to reach high-quality organizational performance. The offered framework is measured by performance metrics based on EFQM, allowing to have structured and comprehensive evaluation of the main areas of the organization. It employs a data-driven approach, to which data collection (based on a survey), data reliability analysis, and multi criteria decision-making as a method of quantitative validation are integrated. The performance is evaluated in EFQM enablers and results criteria, which makes sure that full benchmarking is performed. The results show that the integrated framework is highly efficient in the processes, decision making precision, innovation potential and customer satisfaction in comparison to the conventional methods. The findings also show a high degree of congruence between digital enablers and TQM practices to promote sustainable organizational excellence. The research can fill the gap between quality management and digital innovation by providing a coherent and generalizable framework, which may not only contribute to the development of theory but also have practical implications to organizations that seek to seek data-driven optimization of performance optimization in the dynamic business environment.