Exploring soft versus hard factors for TQM implementation in small and mediumsized enterprises
Purpose This paper aims to rank the emphasis placed on critical factors and quality management principles that determine the success of total quality management TQM as it applies to quality management system implementation in small and mediumsized enterprises SMEs. Designmethodologyapproach This pap...
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| Published in: | International journal of productivity and performance management 2006-10, Vol.55 (7), p.539-554 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Purpose This paper aims to rank the emphasis placed on critical factors and quality management principles that determine the success of total quality management TQM as it applies to quality management system implementation in small and mediumsized enterprises SMEs. Designmethodologyapproach This paper is a synthesis of the literature on TQM implementation in SMEs operating in a developing environment and identifies critical factors. These factors are prioritised according to the frequency in which they appeared by number of articles. The compliance requirements of the ISO 90012000 standard is mapped to one or a combination of quality management principles QMPs on which the standard is based. These principles are grouped as soft and hard and ranked in terms of the number of compliance requirements they represent. Findings The paper identifies critical factors of TQM implementation for SMEs operating in a developing economy. Although exploratory in nature, evidence shows that, while researchers have placed more emphasis on the soft factors, the compliance requirements of the ISO 90012000 standard stress more on the hard factors. Research limitationsimplications The paper shows that the possibility of enriching the theories and practices of TQM implementation and extending the knowledge and applications of soft and hard factors need to be explored. Contrasting the eight QMPs of ISO 90012000 with the evaluation criteria of quality excellence awards needs to be addressed. Practical implications This paper reviews the relative importance of soft and hard factors, and relates the QMPs and compliance requirements of ISO 90012000 to TQM implementation in SMEs. It identifies strengths and weaknesses of the standard, and provides a source of information for top management of SMEs interested in implementing a quality management system. Originalityvalue The findings in this paper link the compliance requirements of ISO 90012000 to QMPs, and point to areas that tend to be least addressed by the ISO 90012000 standard. The paper also advocates a holistic approach to safeguard proper TQM implementation and continual improvement of people, product and processes in SMEs. |
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| ISSN: | 1741-0401 1758-6658 |