Total Quality Management (TQM) is a way of doing business that involves every employee, both labor and management, in an effort to improve quality and productivity. The quality management concept consists of common principles: (1) customer focus; (2) process focus; (3) failure prevention; (4) mobilization of work force; (5) decision making based on fact; and (6) feedback. Industries across the United States are effectively using TQM to improve quality and productivity in the workplace; the theories of TQM can be applied to schools. To apply TQM to education, the process of change must involve the total community. There are 10 characteristics of a well-developed school system that is based on the corporate structure. Some of these are cultural values which support full competency development and lifelong learning, and tight linkages between training departments and the users of their services. Strategic planning to implement complex organizational change consists of four fundamental concepts: missions, strategies, tactics, and assessment. A strategic plan should include the following sections: missions statement, goals, benchmarks, time lines and budget. (KDP)