Examining Top Management Commitment to TQM Diffusion using Institutional and Upper Echelon Theories

Dubey, Rameshwar and Gunasekaran, Angappa and Childe, Stephen J. and Papadopoulos, Thanos and Hazen, Benjamin and Roubaud, David (2017) Examining Top Management Commitment to TQM Diffusion using Institutional and Upper Echelon Theories. International Journal of Production Research, . pp. 1-19. ISSN 0020-7543. E-ISSN 1366-588X. (doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1394590) (Full text available)

Abstract

Total Quality Management (TQM) is an enduring approach for enhancing firm competitiveness. Still, there is dearth of research regarding organisational diffusion (post-adoption) of TQM. To address this gap, this research proposes a theoretical model rooted in institutional and upper echelon theories that explains TQM diffusion via top management commitment. We surveyed 300 senior quality managers representing 300 auto-components manufacturers in India to collect data to test the proposed model using variance based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings suggest that institutional pressures significantly influence top management commitment to TQM. Subsequently, top management commitment influences organisational diffusion of TQM via acceptance, routinization, and assimilation. Managers can use the findings of this research to better understand how to assimilate TQM so that anticipated benefits can be fully realized.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled keywords:	Total Quality Management, Acceptance, Routinization, Assimilation, Institutional Theory, Upper Echelon Theory, Survey Methods, Factor Analysis
Subjects:	H Social Sciences
Divisions:	Faculties > Social Sciences > Kent Business School
Depositing User:	Thanos Papadopoulos
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2017 09:16 UTC
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2018 00:00 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/64120 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)