TQM, Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen in higher education management: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

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In response to the changing environment and competition external pressures, Higher Education Institutions have adopted management practices oriented towards increasing productivity, efficiency, and quality. Some initiatives have been conducted towards quality assurance and accreditation of management systems, and others incorporate philosophies and tools based on Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen approaches. The implementation of such approaches in Higher Education has drawn scholars’ attention since the 1990s. The purpose of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis exploring the literature related to the application of TQM, Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen in Higher Education Institutions, providing guidance for researchers and practitioners in the field.