The contemporary quality management (QM) literature prescribes various quality improvement strategies. However, it lacks scientifically developed and tested constructs that represent an integrative QM philosophy. Moreover, an impact of the prescribed QM strategies on a firm's product quality has not been analyzed. Through a detailed analysis of the literature, this research identifies 12 constructs of integrated QM strategies. Using a survey of 371 manufacturing firms, the constructs are then empirically tested and validated. LISREL 7 is used for this purpose. Finally, a framework to examine the effects of integrated QM strategies on a firm's product quality is suggested. Comparisons between this and two other comprehensive scales of TQM are made.

Development and Validation of TQM Implementation Constructs

Preface and acknowledgments Introduction 1. Explanation and dialectics Part I. Philosophy and Economics: 2. Philosophical anthropology 3. Economics 4. Exploitation, freedom and justice Part II. Theory of History: 5. Modes of production 6. Classes 7. Politics and the state 8. Ideologies 9. Capitalism, communism and revolution Conclusion references Index of names index of subjects.

Making Sense of Marx

Cross-cultural research is dominated by the use of values despite their mixed empirical support and their limited theoretical scope. This article expands the dominant paradigm in cross-cultural research by developing a theory of cultural tightness-looseness (the strength of social norms and the degree of sanctioning within societies) and by advancing a multilevel research agenda for future research. Through an exploration of the top-down, bottom-up, and moderating impact that cultural tightness-looseness has on individuals and organizations, as well as on variance at multiple levels of analysis, the theory provides a new and complementary perspective to the values approach.

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On the nature and importance of cultural tightness-looseness.

There has been a plethora of published research related to total quality management (TQM) in the last few decades. However, very few studies focused on cataloging critical factors of TQM. One of the objectives of this literature review was to investigate the state of TQM by examining and listing various TQM factors identified based on survey studies conducted in different countries and published in a variety of journals over the past decade. An examination of 76 survey studies that used an integrated approach to TQM showed that the TQM factors could be grouped under 25 categories. An analysis of the 347 survey based research articles published between 1989 and 2000 using these 25 factors as a framework revealed the most frequently covered TQM factors in the literature. Another goal of the paper was to analyse the objectives of these articles by year and type of journal they were published in to determine the trends in TQM survey based studies and recommend future direction for research. The analysis showed that the objectives of the 347 studies could be grouped under six categories.

An investigation of the total quality management survey based research published between 1989 and 2000: A literature review

Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing

Does ISO 9000 certification affect the dimensions of quality used for competitive advantage

ISO 9000 certification serves as an entre into the global marketplace. European firms have been the most prolific in obtaining ISO 9000 certification. The certification experiences of 11 European firms are described. On‐site interviews and questionnaires were used to identify: the obstacles encountered during the implementation effort; the impacts certification had on operational factors; and the ISO 9000 elements requiring the greatest resources. Results suggest that firms of different sizes, in different industries, in different countries have similar experiences with respect to the obstacles, benefits, and effort associated with ISO 9000 certification. This information may facilitate certification by companies in countries seeking to penetrate international markets.

Impacts of ISO 9000 registration on European firms: a case analysis

Responses from over 500 companies relating to their experiences with ISO 9000 implementation are presented. Companies were categorized according to ownership: US-owned (Type U) and foreign-owned (Type F) manufacturing firms. The results reveal the importance and the dual role of documentation as a critical factor necessary to obtain ISO 9000 registration: (1) as the critical element requiring the highest level of effort in the registration process;and (2)as one of the key potential barriers to successful implementation. Increasing market share is the highest rated reason for achieving ISO 9000 registration. ISO 9000 registered companies expect a high degree of improvement in product design , process design , product quality , communication , and supplier relations. The findings also reveal that there is no significant difference between the two firm ownership types for all variables tested, indicating that the ISO 9000 standards appear universal in applicability.

Experiences of US- and foreign-owned firms : A new perspective on ISO 9000 implementation.

An exploration of the impact of TQM and JIT on ISO 9000 registered companies

The authors sought to determine whether firms classified as incorporating a Japanese quality management approach had significantly higher levels of worker involvement in the quality effort as well as higher utilization of statistical quality control (SQC) tools. The three types of firms represented were traditional American firms, Japanese firms operating in the US, and nontraditional American firms emulating the Japanese approach to quality management. Results suggest that Japanese and nontraditional American firms (1) have a significantly higher level of worker involvement and (2) use simple SQC tools significantly more than traditional American firms. In addition, Japanese firms operating in the US showed results comparable to these American firms practicing Japanese quality management techniques. >

Barbara E. Withers

Papers

Does ISO 9000 certification affect the dimensions of quality used for competitive advantage

Impacts of ISO 9000 registration on European firms: a case analysis

Experiences of US- and foreign-owned firms : A new perspective on ISO 9000 implementation.

An exploration of the impact of TQM and JIT on ISO 9000 registered companies

Employee involvement in quality improvement: a comparison of American and Japanese manufacturing firms operating in the US