The seven winning schools are working to develop models for incorporating total quality into the curricula of business and engineering schools. Much of what is produced is self-serving. The advanced development work is going on by trial and error within large companies. Firms that consider their methodologies proprietary or a source of competitive advantage have little interest in sharing their knowledge with other firms. Until recently, education has been out of the loop.
Federal agencies work without coordination and focus on only part of the issue.
A general lack of funding from federal agencies for management oriented research in the quality area. Most of the federally funded research is technologically oriented, but the barriers to work restructuring do not stem from a lack of technology. The best books are not available in book stores. The best courses not available in all locations. There is a wide variation in consultant quality.