ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
Forensic laboratories are vital to criminal investigations and the judicial process, demanding accuracy, efficiency, and compliance?with regulatory standards. Key Total Quality Management (TQM) determinants, such as dedicated leadership, commitment to continual improvement, employee training and performance evaluation emerged as vital drivers of productivity and service quality. These key drivers are particularly significantas forensic institutions transition to digital environment. This article?creates a conceptual framework combining concepts from TQM Theory, Resource-Based View (RBV), and Change Management Theory to explore how forensic institutions can increase productivity and handle employee resistance to change. Although, there have been comprehensive studies of the effects of TQM on manufacturing, healthcare and?the service industries, there is not much study has been given to TQM effects on forensic science institutions within post-Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) environments. The article finds a substantial gap in literature in reference to employee resistance and how does this impact on the TQM driven, quality improvements in the forensic?laboratories. The study emphasizes the need for additional empirical?research to test the framework described here via case studies and longitudinal studies that show the long-term impact of TQM on forensic productivity. Cross-national studies of forensic practice could shine further light on how resistance to change is reflected in various forensic settings, as they will?scrutinize different forensic institutions, legal jurisdictions, and cultural contexts. This way, forensic institutions may fill the gaps with effective quality management approaches, regulatory compliance,?and forensic service delivery. Furthermore, implementing TQM with digital forensic?advancements as a method of addressing the concerns of employees via improved communication will guarantee that forensic institutions could harness the full potential of quality initiatives in post-LIMS environments.
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