The impact of contextual factors on total quality management practices

Abstract

There are mixed results about the effect of the contextual variables on the total quality management (TQM) practices. This study investigated contingency effects of firm size and firm type on quality management practices. For this purpose, we identified TQM variables as leadership, employee management, information and analysis, supplier management, process management, customer focus, and continuous improvement after reviewing the literature. The study used cross-sectional survey methodology and sent 500 questionnaires to ISO-9001:2000 certified firms in different industries in the Marmara region in Turkey in the years of 2005 and 2006. The results show that firm size statistically significantly affects TQM practices. Large firms implemented employee management, information and analysis, supplier management, and continuous improvement practices more intensively than small firms. The results also show that firm type does 110t statistically significantly affect TQM practices. One exception was that manufacturing firms implemented information and analysis practices more heavily than service firms.