Effects of Total Quality Management (TQM) Dimensions on Innovation—Evidence from SMEs

Marina Godinho Antunes, Pedro Ribeiro Mucharreira, Maria Rosário Texeira Justino and Joaquín Texeira-Quirós
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Marina Godinho Antunes: ISCAL—Lisbon Accounting and Business School, Lisbon Polytechnic Institute, 1069-035 Lisbon, Portugal
Pedro Ribeiro Mucharreira: Institute of Education, University of Lisbon, 1649-013 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria Rosário Texeira Justino: ISCAL—Lisbon Accounting and Business School, Lisbon Polytechnic Institute, 1069-035 Lisbon, Portugal
Joaquín Texeira-Quirós: Department of Economic and Business Sciences, Autonomous University of Lisbon, 1169-023 Lisbon, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: This research study aims to study and identify which dimensions of TQM have influence on and support innovation strategies within the Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in the context of products or services’ innovation and process innovation, as well as to analyze the extent to which this relationship occurs. To examine the linkage between TQM dimensions and innovation strategies, concerning innovation products and innovation processes, a multiple linear regression analysis was chosen and an eight-predictor multiple linear regression model was proposed. The data was collected through a questionnaire sent by email. This research study allows to conclude that several dimensions of TQM, such as benchmarking, quality/conception and product design, and continuous improvement, have a significant and positive association with product innovation. Although the data analysis/measurement of the results dimension has a significant association with product innovation, this association is negative. Conversely, several TQM dimensions, such as leadership/management’s commitment, benchmarking, involvement/empowerment of employees, and continuous improvement, revealed a positive and significant association with process innovation. Our research is of crucial importance for the knowledge of Portuguese SMEs and the fundamental factors that companies must address to both improve their efficiency and be more competitive, thereby increasing profitability and ensuring financial sustainability in the medium and long term.

Keywords: total quality management; product innovation; process innovation; SMEs; continuous improvement; customer focus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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