Total quality management and human resource systems: an international comparison

This paper takes advantage of a unique international data set to examine the determinants of the adoption and sustainability of total quality management techniques, focusing in particular on the role played by human resource professionals and practices. The data come from a 1991 survey conducted by Ernst and Young and the American Quality Foundation covering the use of TQM tools in the computer, auto, health care and banking industries in Japan, the United States, Canada and Germany.

The research distinguishes between two ways of implementing total quality management – one approach conceptualizes TQM as a relatively limited set of technical engineering changes while the second implements these technical changes as part of a larger transformation of the organization of work. We find support for the second approach in that the number of employees using quality tools and the number of quality tools in use is greater and lasts longer in firms that also have team-based human resource systems for frontline employees, with team structures, suggestion systems, meetings and group rewards. This central finding holds across all countries and industries studied.

We also find that achievement of these changes requires the commitment of organizational stakeholders to incorporate the interests of employees in strategic decision making. Though union presence alone does not predict the adoption or sustainability of these innovations, partnership between management and union does have a positive effect. The level of strategic influence of the human resource department also influences innovation, though in ways that differ across countries and industries.

The findings suggest the value of comparative studies and of research focused at exploring sub-national variation. The findings also suggest the value of a longitudinal study of the sustainability of innovation.     

提高产品质量管理 增强企业竞争力

随着经济社会的发展以及顾客对产品个性化的追求,产品质量越来越成为产品要素的重点,因此提高产品质量成为提高企业产品竞争力的有效手段。PDCA质量管理环为企业提供了可行的质量提升手段。本文对公司实施PDCA的过程和方法进行研究,分析表明,PDCA质量控制工作是一个循环往复的递升过程,对于企业不断提高产品质量将产生积极作用。     

Innovation in entrepreneurial organisations: A platform for contemporary management change and a value creator

PurposeThis article examines the significance of innovation to organisations following strategies of entrepreneurial orientation. In particular, the study looks at the significance innovation adds to the implementation of contemporary management control systems (MCSs) and to improved performance in these organisations.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative analysis was conducted based on a random sample of Australian manufacturing companies. A structural equation modelling approach was adopted to test the study hypotheses.FindingsResults suggest that innovation mediates the relationships between entrepreneurial strategy and each of participative budgeting, the balanced score card (BSC), total quality management (TQM), just in time (JIT), and organisational performance. The study does not indicate a significant relationship between entrepreneurial strategy and activity based costing (ABC), even when innovation is in place.Originality/valueThe study empirically tests the vital role of innovation in the organisational adaptive cycle to entrepreneurial strategies, described earlier by Miles and Snow (1978). Further, the study validates a multi-dimensional strategy model first suggested by Langfield-Smith (1997).     

从全面质量管理到全面质量创新：论21世纪质量管理的主要特征

全面质量管理（TQC、TQM）主要是对质量形成全过程进行控制，其“质量改进”内涵偏重于“减少错误”、“采取纠正和预防措施”，它通常只能使产品质量接近或达到设计水平。21世纪的质量管理将向全面质量创新（TQI）阶段发展，即不仅要减少错误，更重要的是不断创新和提高。文章分析了全面质量创新阶段的主要特征。     

Work unit incivility, job satisfaction, and total quality management among transportation employees

Survey results from 1381 employees working in a state department of transportation tested the idea that uncivil work environments bear undesirable consequences for job satisfaction and diminish the effectiveness of quality management practices. Results demonstrated that incivility does not have to be personally experienced to have deleterious effects, merely witnessed. Perceived workplace incivility was found to adversely affect job satisfaction and the effectiveness of quality programs aimed at teamwork, customer focus and continuous improvement, even after controlling for race, gender and prior experience of harassment. Managers are advised to broaden their consideration of incivility to include its effects on observers.     

基于TQM工程项目质量与进度控制的协调性研究

近年来对于工程项目管理研究取得了相当多的研究成果,但是把质量控制的理论性研究摆在和进度控制、成本控制同样重要的位置上的研究项目并不多。工程项目质量目标与进度目标是对立统一的矛盾体。本文在研究工程项目进度与质量的关系,影响工程项目进度和质量的因素以及进度控制和质量控制的途径的基础上,结合全面质量管理理论的要求,在假设成本有保证的情况下,对工程项目质量控制和进度控制的协调性进行了研究,对于工程项目管理研究和实际的工程项目管理工作都具有极大的参考价值。     

运用TQM提升供应链稳定性

全面质量管理（TQM）作为供应链管理（SCM）质量的关键成功因素，越来越引起业界重视。从信息技术和绩效衡量两个维度来探讨TQM提升供应链稳定性的方法，并以美国汽车业的成功案例进行说明。     

城市政府全面质量管理的主要理念

全面质量管理是以强调组织全员参与为基础的质量管理形式。城市政府实施全面质量管理必须自觉接受顾客满意、全员参与、全过程控制和持续改进四种理念的指导。     

企业质量文化的价值继承与现代构建

国外学者对全面质量管理和质量文化已有不少深刻的理论阐述和实证研究。日本企业TQM的成功和卓越的质量文化的形成与儒家文化的嫁接有很重要的关系。中国先秦儒家文化的义利观、和谐观、诚信观、儒商精神与TQM及质量文化内涵有很多内在联系,吸取儒家文化的合理因素有利于构建中国企业的质量文化。