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Studying The Relationship Of "Soft" And "Hard" TQM Elements With Service Quality In Service Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Seng Ratny
  • Arif Mohammad Arshad
  • Tian Gaoliang

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, China)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to observe the importance of "hard" and "soft" quality management aspects, association between soft-hard TQM elements and their impact on service. This study also analysis the outcome of "hard" and "soft" TQM components on Service Quality pursuits as well as verifies the statements about TQM's multidimensionality regarding service quality. Empirical data was drawn from 190 Pakistan service companies using questionnaire method. Hierarchical regression analysis was adopted to examine the hypotheses of this research. Results revealed that both aspects of hard-soft TQM perform an important role in enhancing service quality of service organizations. Final results demonstrated that all four variables of soft TQM were significantly connected with hard TQM variables; displaying the impact of soft-hard TQM factors on service quality. In accordance with the outcomes of this research, the usage of "soft" and "hard" TQM components can lay the foundations for enhancing its service quality. This research contributes to quality management, thereby theoretically suggesting and empirically examining the framework and analysing the integration between soft-hard TQM dimensions. This paper also tests the available claims about TQM's multidimensionality as well as its multidimensional reference to service quality. The suggested framework emphasizes that productive organizations should concentrate on a mixture of both soft or behaviour factors and the hard systems-oriented elements of TQM to attain better service quality to achieve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Accordingly, both soft and hard practices are important for the rendering of service quality, and soft factors assist in enhancing hard factors. This provides the empirical verification concerning the direct effect of soft-hard TQM on service quality to financial services firms in Pakistan.

Suggested Citation

  • Seng Ratny & Arif Mohammad Arshad & Tian Gaoliang, 2018. "Studying The Relationship Of "Soft" And "Hard" TQM Elements With Service Quality In Service Firms," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 52(4), pages 213-226, October-D.
  • Handle: RePEc:jda:journl:vol.52:year:2018:issue4:pp:213-226
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    Keywords

    Soft TQM; Hard TQM; Service Quality; Total quality management (TQM); Service Firms; Pakistan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L84 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Personal, Professional, and Business Services
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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