Quality Management Practices and Innovation: the Moderating Effect of ISO 9001 Certification

Sonda DAOUD BEN Arab ()
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Sonda DAOUD BEN Arab: PRISME Laboratory

Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2022, vol. 13, issue 3, No 20, 2177-2202

Abstract: Abstract Quality management (QM) and innovation have aroused the interest of an extensive literature. The relationship between these two strands of research remains thoroughly misunderstood, though. With the aim of offering a refined understanding and validation of the relationship proposed, the current paper investigates the effect of seven QM practices on product, process, and organizational innovation, respectively. For the purpose of further addressing the links above, the moderating role of ISO 9001 certification is considered. The model proposed is tested, using the hypothetico-deductive research method. On the basis of data gathered from 81 firms in Tunisian manufacturing sectors, Mann–Whitney test is used to compare QM practices and innovation in ISO and non-ISO-certified companies. The causal relationships are then analyzed, using structural equation modeling. The findings suggest that most of corporations surveyed have implemented QM practices and innovation to a large extent. Nevertheless, this implementation is higher in certified firms. On the other hand, evidence is found to support that partnership with customers and suppliers have a positive influence on product and process innovation while leadership, decision-making, and process approach are significantly related to organizational innovation. Unexpectedly, employee involvement has no significant impact on the three innovation types. Empirical findings do not support the moderating effect of ISO 9001 certification, either. Based on a multi-dimensional structure of constructs, the originality of this paper consists in analyzing the effect of seven QM practices on three distinct types of innovation in ISO and non-ISO-firms. The findings from the structural model contribute to the emerging-scholarly discourse via rejecting the assumption that QM practices undermine innovation, mainly in developing countries where insights on the topic are scarce. As a matter of fact, managers should recognize that quality could, through its human and technical aspects, promote creating an environment conducive to innovation provided that those practices are effectively applied.

Keywords: QM practices; Product innovation; Process innovation; Organizational innovation; ISO 9001 certification; Tunisian companies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s13132-021-00805-x

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