Attribution testing of benefits associated with ISO 9000: Evidence for counterintuitive causation

ISO 9000 Management Systems adoption has proven to be a persistent and growing phenomenon in services and manufacturing, yet to date little research has been done that can indicate what proportion of improved business performance can be attributed to it. Logic for testing for attribution of performance improvement is proposed that can separate the influence of reverse causation from causation that can be attributed to management system certification. This is demonstrated and then used to interpret other longitudinal studies and it is concluded that there is although there is some causal evidence that can indicate that management system certification has a causal influence on business performance, there is stronger evidence for the existence of a substantial reverse causation mechanism due to better performing firms self-selecting to adopt certification. Possible causes that might explain this mechanism are discussed. The authors suggest that richer theory is needed that can incorporate bi-directional influences and new research is needed to explore the underpinning causes of adoption selection effects.