TQM for Greek SMEs: an alternative in facing crisis conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Sainis ◽  
George Haritos ◽  
Thanos Kriemadis ◽  
Ioanna Papasolomou
Keyword(s):  
Performance Appraisal ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Qualitative Survey ◽  
Iso Certification ◽  
Crisis Conditions

Purpose This study aims to bridge the gap left by earlier studies regarding the issue of whether the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification is a stepping stone that ultimately leads to instilling a total quality management (TQM) culture, or whether it is the end-point in their journey toward quality. Design/methodology/approach The study was primarily quantitative in nature supported from a qualitative survey following the triangulation approach, as the aim was to test a number of hypotheses related to TQM’s role in the operation of Greek ISO certified small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A questionnaire was developed based on the critical success factors that were used in the self-assessment instrument developed by Hunt (1992) and Sashkin (1996) to assess the level of TQM implementation in approximately 400 Greek SMEs. Findings The study revealed that Greek ISO certified SMEs, emphasize performance appraisal, invest in quality elements that require minimum usage of their resources and prioritize their ISO certification. Originality/value TQM is one of the most powerful concepts available to businesses today. However, most of the literature focuses on the practice of TQM within large manufacturing organizations. This paper aims to readdress the situation by outlining a study on TQM in the SME sector in Greece.

Critical success factors for total quality management implementation and implications for sustainable academic libraries

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 545-563
Author(s):  
Edward Asante ◽  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Technical University

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the critical success factors for total quality management implementation and implications for sustainable academic libraries in Ghana. This study is part of a PhD project that focussed on selected technical university libraries in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative approach to collect the data. Samples of 124 participants were involved in this study. PLS-SEM (Smart PLS3) software was used to analyse the data. Convergent, discriminant validity assessment was computed. Eight variables of critical success factors were tested in relation to total quality management implementation at selected academic libraries in Ghana.FindingsThis study established that out of the eight variables tested, six of them (i.e. top management commitment, employee innovation employee training, organisational culture, teamwork and effective communication, quality performance) indicated a significant positive relationship with total quality management implementation apart from strategic planning and human resource management.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to eight variables as the critical success factors mentioned in the previous paragraph. The use of one methodology might be a limitation as the use of multimethod might have given a more comprehensive picture than the case. This study was limited to only technical university libraries in Ghana hence caution must be exercised when applying the results to contextually different academic environments. The results are applicable to academic universities library in Ghana and beyond if they are adjusted to suit the context.Practical implicationsThis study is timely as it may lead to effective total quality management implementation and the sustainability of technical university libraries in Ghana and Africa in general.Originality/valueThe proposed model can be used to enhance the smooth implementation of total quality management in academic libraries in general and Ghana in particular. The framework is termed as Eddie and Pat's Achievement of Quality Performance (EPAfQP) model.

scholarly journals Continuous improvement initiatives for dynamic capabilities development

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-149
Author(s):  
Leopoldo Gutierrez-Gutierrez ◽  
Jiju Antony
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
The Usa

Purpose This study aims to analyse the existing literature on continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and dynamic capabilities (DCs) development to explore the question whether CI initiatives foster development of DCs in organisations. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken. Four databases were included in the structured searches (EBSCOhost, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, ProQuest and Emerald Insight), 19 studies were finally included and analysed in detail. Findings The results obtained identify issues such as a growing trend in the publication of studies, the dominant position of the USA and the predominance of empirical papers. The literature was classified according to whether it presents CI as a DC in itself, as an enabler of DC or as a result of the DC. The main critical success factors to be implemented in CI initiatives (CII) were also identified, to enhance the development of DCs. Finally, based on the analysis of the specific DC literature, ten theoretical propositions for possible future research have been developed. Originality/value CII such as Lean Management, Six Sigma and Total Quality Management have been widely implemented in organisations. Despite their reputation, the effects of these initiatives on long-term benefits remain debated, this motivates the SLR of CII and DC. The DC theory tackles the question of how firms can sustain their advantage and profits in the long term, making this perspective ideal for tackling controversy on the benefits of CII.

A systematic literature review on total quality management critical success factors and the identification of new avenues of research

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Aquilani ◽  
Cecilia Silvestri ◽  
Alessandro Ruggieri ◽  
Corrado Gatti
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
And Performance ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic literature review to identify new avenues of research in line with the ongoing changes in quality and management required to firms, especially regarding customers. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a systematic review of the literature contained in the three databases Ebsco, JSTOR, and Springerlink and on the search engine Google Scholar. Findings An analysis of the literature identifies three different clusters of papers: “identification” papers, which show that customer focus has gained importance in recent times; “implementation” papers, which highlight that a general or shared model or scale to successfully implement total quality management (TQM) does not yet exist; and “impact-on-performance” papers, which show that few studies have considered the relationship between TQM and the issues of both marketing and performance, underlining the most significant gap in the TQM literature. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by the small number of databases and search engines used and by the restricted number of keywords used in searching these sources. Practical implications This work highlights a gap in the existing research and thus an incomplete consideration of the interplay between management, marketing, and quality issues, all centered on customers and other stakeholders. Researchers and firms are thus advised to adopt a wider view that considers the role of the quality process to support the firm’s engagement of customers in activities that enhance both the customer role and customer satisfaction. Originality/value This study uses a systematic literature review to review all critical factors of TQM and identifies new research avenues and different approaches to implementing TQM, focusing on the central role that customers play in achieving firm success.

Critical success factors for TQM implementation among manufacturing SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetoslav Georgiev ◽  
Seiichi Ohtaki
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
International Study ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Success Factor ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Management Involvement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address a perennial question regarding the importance of soft total quality management (TQM) as part of the TQM implementation process – a topic that has been significantly understudied. Specifically, the authors address previous calls in the literature for stressing the soft aspects of TQM and for drawing a critical success factor (CSF) list that is formulated on the basis of empirical research instead of theory. Design/methodology/approach This is a comparative qualitative case study of three manufacturing SMEs combining empirical data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a large variety of stakeholders – from top managers to shop-floor workers, site visits and observations. Findings The study identifies 12 soft CSFs, and while most of these factors have been well-documented in the literature (e.g. top management involvement and leadership), the authors show evidence for the existence of other soft constructs that have not been considered or have been given little importance previously (i.e. middle management involvement and support, reward and recognition, CSR focus). Research limitations/implications The study fills two major gaps in the (T)QM literature. First, it enriches the understanding of TQM implementation among Japanese SMEs. Second, it addresses the importance of soft TQM as part of the TQM implementation process. Practical implications This paper provides company owners and managers with valuable knowledge that may assist their organisations in the pursuit of business excellence including higher product quality and employee satisfaction. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first (international) study to investigate TQM implementation within the context of Japanese SMEs.

Achieving quality in printing: some determining factors in the printing industry in Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 691-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Kingsley Graham ◽  
Isaac Owusu
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Print Quality ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Relationship Of

Purpose – Implementing quality programmes faces challenges and are not able to yield the needed results. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which three key variables referred to as employee development, empowerment and participation (EDEP) determine the success of a quality programme of printing firms in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The study is purely quantitative and data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of workers from printing firms in Ghana. The questionnaire instrument assesses the practices of the firms on development, empowerment and participation of employees. Descriptive, correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to ascertain the contribution and relationship of the variables to quality achievement. Findings – EDEP is directly and significantly related to print quality achievement. Among the three variables, participation has the greatest effect and contributes significantly to quality achievement. This is followed by empowerment, which has moderate effect on successful quality programme. Research limitations/implications – The study was unable to evaluate entire Total Quality Management dimensions. More extended research, preferably longitudinal study, is needed to establish how EDEP affect quality achievement in organisations. Practical implications – Achieving quality printing depends on the level of attention to EDEP. The study suggests that when employees participate fully in quality drive and self-manage their actions and duties, high-quality printing can be assured. Social implications – The study provides useful information on factors that have been overlooked or given less attention, yet affect quality programmes of the firms. Originality/value – The study empirically measure critical success factors of a quality in the printing firms.

Critical success factors of TQM, Six Sigma, Lean and Lean Six Sigma

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 3479-3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Sreedharan V. ◽  
Vijaya Sunder M. ◽  
Raju R.
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
The Future

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on the critical success factors (CSFs) of various continuous improvement (CI) like total quality management (TQM), Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS), and perform a content analysis (CA) leading to an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach CA is based on literature review of 41 papers published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. A four-stage methodology is used by the authors, with Stage 1 featuring relevant material collection; Stage 2 presenting a descriptive analysis; Stage 3 outlining the category selection; and Stage 4 featuring the material evaluation using clustering and Pareto analysis. Findings The CA revealed various research implications and directions for the future. The number of studies in the literature regarding CSF assessment is found to be far from substantial while compared to CI implementation. Assessment methodologies developed have been ranging from qualitative to quantitative models. Key gaps were identified and directions for CSF assessment are proposed which requires further validation. Research limitations/implications Only articles that appeared in peer-reviewed journals were analyzed; conference papers, reports, manuals and white papers from practice were excluded. Another limitation of the paper would be the scope of CA limited to four CI constructs – TQM, Lean, Six Sigma and LSS. Research implications indicate that the future studies in this domain would be intensive toward analyzing the vital CSFs for enterprise organizational excellence and not merely process excellence. Practical implications This review study can serve as a resource for both researchers and practitioners to understand the importance of CSFs and positioning CSFs for the successful implementation of CI programs. Originality/value The CA on the existing literature on CSFs for CI presents a unique, systematic effort to identify an agenda for future research. This study is the apparently the first of its kind on CSF assessment.

Critical factors for total quality management implementation in the Brazilian construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lívia da Silveira Pereira Reinaldo ◽  
Julio Vieira Neto ◽  
Rodrigo Goyannes Gusmão Caiado ◽  
Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Latent Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) that affect the implementation of total quality management (TQM) and to investigate, from the perspective of Brazil, the latent factors for TQM implementation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consists of two methods. First, a literature review was conducted to identify CSFs for TQM implementation. Then, empirical research was conducted from a survey questionnaire applied to 130 professionals who have experience in the Brazilian construction industry. SPSS version-25 was used for data analysis, using descriptive statistics, and, finally, principal component analysis for identifying the latent factors.FindingsThe study findings portray convergences regarding the practitioners' perception in the light of the 20 critical factors identified in the literature, which can serve to make construction professionals aware of the key factors to TQM implementation. In addition, two latent factors, quality practices and human factor were identified, and they can assist the leaders and decision-makers for the implementation of TQM in the construction industry of a developing country.Originality/valueIt fills the gap of practical studies that compare the academic and practitioners' perspectives regarding the CSFs for TQM implementation in construction industry.

Measuring knowledge management performance in industrial enterprises

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 310-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Yin Rebecca Yiu ◽  
Kit Fai Pun
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
The Self ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Potential Applicability

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss an integrated paradigm that aligns the measures of knowledge management (KM) performance to attain corporate goals in organisations. It presents the main findings of an exploratory study on the use of the paradigm and the accompanied self-assessment scheme in industrial enterprises in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Design/methodology/approach – An integrated knowledge management (IKM) model was derived, incorporating the guiding principles of the Total Quality Management/Business Excellence Models. A host of 20 elements was advocated under 5 assessment criteria, namely, Senior management leadership, KM processes, people development, continuous improvement and results orientation. A four-level self-assessment scheme was developed for facilitating users to determine the maturity status of IKM performance in organisations. An exploratory study was conducted with respondents of 18 companies in T&T. A results-oriented methodology with a self-assessment instrument (includes a set of questionnaire and facilitative tools) was used to acquire the industry practitioners’ views on the potential applicability of the IKM model. The study compared the current with the expected organisational performance and explored the relevance of integrating KM and PM practices in these participating organisations. Findings – The findings provided some useful data sources and managerial insights in integrating KM/PM initiatives with reference to groups of large enterprises vs small- and medium-sized companies in T&T. Empirical evidence showed that the self-assessment analysis could help participating organisations utilise their resources and keep up with improvement progress. The objectives, emphasis and administrative context of the KM/PM integration could be changed with varying resources, constraints and maturity status of organisations. Research limitations/implications – Future research could validate the self-assessment paradigm of KM performance in enterprises across various industry sectors, with the emphasis on human–technology–organisation interactions. Originality/value – It is anticipated that adapting the IKM model and using it for regular self-assessments could help industrial enterprises to enhance their KM and PM capabilities for attaining improvement goals. The results could facilitate information sharing of best practices and create conditions conducive to continuous performance improvement.

An empirical investigation of critical success factors influencing the successful TQM implementation for firms with different strategic orientation

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1530-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimal Kumar ◽  
R.R.K. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Research Show

Purpose It has been found that critical success factors (CSFs) are responsible for successful implementation of total quality management (TQM) system. The purpose of this paper is to make a comparative analysis of the importance of 20 TQM CSFs to the strategic choices of the firms such as innovators, prospectors, and defenders. Design/methodology/approach From extant literature review on TQM, 20 CSFs have been carried out. The empirical data for this study was drawn from a survey of 111 firms in India. One-way ANOVA approach has been applied for analysis. Findings The findings of the research show that the CSFs hold importance for different firm’s strategy. From these 20 CSFs, some CSFs may be critically important for all three types of firm, while others have their significant roles for innovators, prospectors, and defenders individually which are better prepared for TQM implementation. Practical implications The results of this study present the importance of knowing the appropriate CSFs to a strategy of the firms. The emphasis on CSFs will help organizations in accepting and rejecting TQM practices when they try to implement TQM and it is equally important in a global context. Apparently, it is evident that if there is a mismatch of strategy and CSFs with TQM practices it may interrupt the smooth operations of the company. Originality/value This research can be useful for those firms who are in the starting phase of TQM implementation with consideration of CSFs. Moreover, this research also attempts to inspire managers to consider the appropriate CSFs for implementing TQM effectively in their firms.

Analyzing critical success factors of total quality management by using fuzzy cognitive mapping

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 561-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Can Kutlu ◽  
Cigdem Kadaifci
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Dynamic Modelling ◽  
Fuzzy Cognitive Maps ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success

Purpose – Total quality management (TQM) is a process and philosophy to achieve customer satisfaction in long term by improving the products, processes and services effectively and efficiently. TQM implementation is turning into a complex practice due to the increasing number of effective factors and key elements labelled as critical success factors (CSFs). The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relations between CSFs of TQM and to provide decision makers has a clear picture of relations by determining the most affecting – both the number of CSFs which this factor affects and the its effect degree on relevant CSFs are higher comparing to other factors – of this factors affected factors – both the number of CSFs and their effect degree on these factors are higher – that influences a successful TQM implementation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper refers to fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) that allow dynamic modelling of a system in consideration of a complex network structure and the effects of factors to each other. The method demonstrates causal representations between CSFs under uncertainty to represent the relations and interaction between them and performs qualitative simulations to analyse the factors that have the highest impact on continuous improvement of quality management process. The evaluations are performed by five academicians whose professions are on both the areas of TQM and FCM. Findings – FCM analysis shows how the most affecting and affected factors influence the other CSF in order to manage a successful TQM implementation. Originality/value – The critical factors of TQM implementation are in the focus of most of the empirical studies in the literature. However, none of them considers the dynamic interactions between the factors. This study employs FCM to explore the CSFs that influence the TQM implementation process considering the relations among them to observe the most affecting and affected factors based on the changes of determined CSFs.

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