What is one of the primary focuses of TQM?

The primary focus of Total Quality Management (TQM) is Continuous Improvement. This management approach emphasizes the ongoing enhancement of products, services, and processes through incremental improvements over time. The idea is to foster a culture where all employees at all levels are engaged in identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes that can lead to higher quality outputs.

Continuous Improvement aligns with TQM's goal of increasing customer satisfaction by ensuring that processes are consistently evaluated and improved. This involves collecting data, analyzing outcomes, and utilizing feedback to refine practices. By committing to this continuous cycle of evaluation and improvement, organizations can achieve greater efficiency, reduced waste, and ultimately, a stronger competitive advantage.

In contrast, while the other options may relate to certain management styles or business practices, they do not capture the core principle of TQM. Employee competition might create a hostile work environment, innovation through risk-taking could lead to inconsistent quality if not properly managed, and team autonomy, while important for empowerment, does not inherently focus on the systematic and collective effort required for continuous improvement.