Which of the following is typically considered a tool of TQM?

The fishbone diagram, also known as the Ishikawa or cause-and-effect diagram, is a fundamental tool of Total Quality Management (TQM). This tool helps identify, explore, and visually represent the various causes contributing to a specific problem. By breaking down potential causes into categories, teams can systematically analyze the root causes of quality issues rather than just addressing symptoms. This aligns with TQM's focus on continuous improvement, employee involvement, and a commitment to quality throughout all organizational processes.

In a TQM context, using a fishbone diagram facilitates collaborative brainstorming sessions, encouraging input from individuals across various departments. This collective effort is crucial for fostering a culture of quality and improvement. By identifying the root causes of issues, organizations can implement targeted solutions, which enhances product quality and customer satisfaction—key goals of TQM.

The other options, while valuable in different contexts, do not fit as directly into the TQM framework. SWOT analysis focuses on strategic planning, gap analysis identifies discrepancies between current and desired states, and cost-benefit analysis evaluates financial feasibility, but none provide the structured, visual approach to identifying causes of quality issues that the fishbone diagram does.