Organizational Excellence as an Approach to Achieving Total Quality in Libyan Universities: A Theoretical Analytical Study

Abstract

This study examines organizational excellence as an approach to achieving total quality in Libyan universities in light of the rapid transformations in knowledge, technology, higher education, and labor-market requirements. It aims to clarify the concept of organizational excellence, its importance, dimensions, requirements, and major models, while also addressing the concept and philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM) and the foundations of its application in higher education institutions. The study further explores the relationship between organizational excellence and total quality and discusses how organizational excellence can contribute to improving the performance of Libyan universities.
The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on reviewing and analyzing relevant literature and previous studies concerning organizational excellence, Total Quality Management, and quality assurance in higher education. It also considers the Libyan higher education context and reviews selected approaches to institutional improvement, including continuous improvement (Kaizen), the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle, organizational restructuring, and major excellence models such as the EFQM Excellence Model, the Malcolm Baldrige Model, and the Singapore Excellence Model.
The study concludes that organizational excellence can provide an integrated framework for supporting total quality in Libyan universities through effective leadership, a supportive organizational culture, continuous development of human resources, stakeholder engagement, improvement of institutional processes, and continuous performance evaluation. It also emphasizes the importance of strengthening the culture of quality, activating quality assurance offices and units, developing institutional structures, and enhancing the national quality assurance and accreditation system in Libya. The study proposes that adopting organizational excellence principles in a systematic and context-sensitive manner can contribute to improving institutional performance and supporting continuous quality development in Libyan universities.