IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eme/ijppmp/ijppm-02-2019-0059.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The relationship between TQM and SMEs’ performance

Author

Listed:
  • Haim Hilman
  • Gamal Abdualmajed Ali
  • Abdullahi Hassan Gorondutse

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the association between total quality management (TQM) and small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) performance. In particular, it examines whether organizational culture (OC) has a mediating effect on the TQM–SME performance relationship. Design/methodology/approach - The conceptual model for this study was developed based on the literature review of TQM, OC and SME performance. As the research framework, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from managers/owners of SMEs in the Riyadh, Mecca and Eastern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The instrument was evaluated for its validity and reliability. A structural equation model was designed to examine the relationships, using PLS 3.0. Findings - Statistical outcomes add to the literature through displaying a positive direct effect of TQM and OC on SMEs’ performance, and a significant and positive indirect effect of TQM on SMEs’ performance through OC. Research limitations/implications - The quantitative cross-sectional research design investigated a sample of manufacturing SMEs. Future research could use qualitative techniques or a case study approach for further information analysis. Practical implications - The findings of this research provide insights into SMEs’ owners/managers in today’s dynamic manufacturing environment, focussing on TQM as a mechanism for improving their performance. The results can help SMEs by providing guidance on OC, because of its effect on the successful implementation of TQM, therefore improving the level of performance. Originality/value - The research extends the literature of TQM with a comprehensive understanding of TQM from the perspective of SMEs in Saudi Arabia. It fills the gap in empirical studies that investigate the joint effect of TQM and OC on SMEs’ performance. This paper highlights the theoretical contribution and managerial implications as well as making recommendations for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Haim Hilman & Gamal Abdualmajed Ali & Abdullahi Hassan Gorondutse, 2019. "The relationship between TQM and SMEs’ performance," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 69(1), pages 61-84, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijppmp:ijppm-02-2019-0059
    DOI: 10.1108/IJPPM-02-2019-0059
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2019-0059/full/html?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2019-0059/full/pdf?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2019-0059?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Syed Asim Shah & Muhammad Ali Asif & Muhammad Haroon Shoukat & Sema Polatci & Shafique Ur Rehman, 2022. "Quality Management Practices and Inter-Organizational Project Performance: Moderating Effects of Inter-Organizational Communication, Relationship, and Process Conflicts in Healthcare," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eme:ijppmp:ijppm-02-2019-0059. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Emerald Support (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.