Denis Leonard

Corporate social responsibility in a total quality management context: opportunities for sustainable growth

The aim of this paper is to explore how quality management can act as a foundation and key catalyst for developing corporate social responsibility (CSR) within organizations. CSR is an emergent discourse within organizational research and praxis. It has parallels to sustainable development, environmental protection, social equity and economic growth. Although some organizations consider CSR to be a peripheral and sector specific issue, it is becoming increasingly mainstream, supported by government legislation. Key questions arising are, is there a conflict between profit earning and CSR? How can CSR be implemented without impairing business performance? Can CSR build on existing quality management based business initiatives from a philosophical and practical manner? The critique and case study analysis within this paper shows how the ethical basis of quality management can be used to develop CSR within organizations. Quality management models and methodologies established on the broad principles of quality are seen as a foundation and catalyst for effective CSR in organizations.

Grounded theory methodology and practitioner reflexivity in TQM research

There is a paucity of research which seeks to develop TQM theories based on a deep and rich understanding of both socio‐political and technical issues. Resultant theories from such an inductive approach could potentially give a deeper insight into TQM, based on sound theoretical evidence. Studies of this kind should not be confused with descriptive case study analysis and examples of applications. While these helpful approaches contribute to the overall TQM discourse, they do not of themselves develop underpinning theory. This paper describes a grounded theory research methodology for TQM, rather than the actual theory and results. The methodology was applied to 19 organisations and to a longitudinal case study. The methodology makes a contribution from two aspects. First, a comprehensive grounded theory approach for developing TQM theory based in practice was developed and applied. Second, the methodology enabled the practitioners involved in the study to be critically reflective and reflexive in their thoughts and influence throughout the study. This reflexivity resulted in the case study organisation evaluating and implementing TQM‐based change throughout the study.

The role of the business excellence model in operational and strategic decision making

The aim of this paper is to determine current management thinking on how the business excellence model (BEM) is used within organisations. In many cases when organisational change models are applied in organisations the emphasis is on advocacy and implementation. There is a need to allow managers to play a role in critiquing these models which should lead to improved models and more informed application. This paper describes how a grounded theory research methodology is used to enable managers, who are applying the organisational change model known as the BEM, to develop their thinking in regard to the model. The main findings from the paper are, first, the clarification of the different aspects of the operational role of the BEM. Second, the managers found difficulty in attempting to use the model in a strategic manner despite the claims in the literature.

Total quality management in strategy and operations: dynamic grounded models

The aim of this paper is to explore and represent the dynamic relationship between total quality management (TQM), corporate strategy and resultant business operations. In particular, the paper seeks to determine the impact of TQM at the strategic level and how business operations are consequently developed and deployed. These issues are of interest to managers in organisations who want to move their TQM programmes beyond incremental operational improvements and to use TQM to influence, first, the strategy process and, second, business operations. Using an inductive grounded theory research methodology, the paper describes the development of a series of grounded models, which show the dynamic interaction between TQM, strategy and operations. It is concluded that the models represent a suitable framework for further in‐depth case‐based research in the area of TQM, strategy and business operations.

The strategic impact and implementation of TQM

The aim of this paper is to conduct an inductive grounded theory study into the strategic impact of total quality management (TQM). The strategic importance of TQM has been argued for some considerable time (at least ten years or more). The resulting discourse has led to corporate strategy being considered as inherent in TQM. Despite an acknowledgement of the existence of this relationship, there is a paucity of research which seeks to investigate the key issues involved. A grounded theory research methodology was developed using 19 grounded case studies of organisations which were involved in TQM and which had well‐developed strategic planning processes. First, it was found that there was an inconsistency in TQM terminology, especially in regard to TQM’s integration with the strategic planning process. Second, TQM was only articulated as a means of achieving a target, which has been set at strategic level. Finally, the results indicated that TQM plays a key role in strategy implementation, as distinct from strategic formulation, within the organisations.

Reflecting on a TQM‐based university/industry partnership

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to show how a university‐industry partnership can be used in two key ways. First, to contribute to academia through the development of new research methodology and improved understanding of the subject area (total quality management (TQM)). Second, to add to organisational learning by developing critical reflection and reflexivity in employees and managers involved in the partnership and the development of TQM in the organisation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper critiques the partnership between the authors university and a large utility organisation over a four‐year period. The development of academic and organisational learning over this period is discussed, with particular emphasis on the need for developing appropriate research methodologies in this type of environment. Findings – The paper has shown that partnerships between universities and organisations often experience difficulties due to apparently differing and incommensurate desired outcomes. Any part...

Impacting organizational learning: the training and experiences of quality award examiners and assessors

Aims to show that developments in the quality award assessment process in organizations can make a contribution, within a wider framework of organizational learning. The underpinning theoretical argument is that quality award models and associated organizational assessment processes can be used to achieve much wider benefits, than that of quality per se. The quality award assessment process has been applied in organizations since the mid‐1980s until the present. The process uses models such as the Business Excellence Model and the Baldrige model. These models use an interpretation of quality, which is based on the holistic approach of total quality management. In parallel with the development of the assessment process there has been considerable development in the field of organizational learning with an emphasis on developing learning based skills in employees. Shows how the learning experiences and skills developed and enhanced through the assessment process can be applied within an organization’s approaches to learning in other disciplines.

The strategic impact and application of the business excellence model: implications for quality training and development

The aim of this paper is to explore the tactical role of the business excellence model (BEM) and the significance for quality training and development, in relation to strategy and operations within organisations. There are conflicting accounts in the literature and praxis in relation to the role of the BEM. Some consider it to be a strategic model while others consider it to be of use solely at an operational level. This paper explores this dichotomy by considering the tactical role of the BEM in organisations and the implications for quality training and development in organisations. A grounded theory research methodology is used. Based on the research a grounded model of the BEM application in organisations is presented and discussed, showing the current role of the BEM for managers in relation to operations and strategy. The need for a resultant shift in emphasis in quality training and development is shown.

The Strategic Dynamics of Total Quality Management: A Grounded Theory Research Study

The aim of this article is to describe the development of total quality management (TQM) models using a grounded theory research methodology where a key part of the methodology is a longitudinal study. The models seek to capture the development of quality within organizations over time and thus to contribute a dynamic perspective. Much of existing literature on longitudinal TQM development in organizations is anecdotal and descriptive, without any obvious theoretical base. This article seeks to help fill the void by examining organizational practice with the view to develop underpinning theoretical models through grounded theory research. The article describes five models, which can be combined to describe the effective development of TQM within an organization. The models include TQM environment, TQM life cycle, the key points of TQM application, the strategic application of TQM, and the strategic application of the business excellence model (BEM). The case study is used to illustrate the application of the models in a dynamic situation.

A grounded multi‐model framework for TQM dynamics

It is often claimed that existing quality models can represent the development of total quality management (TQM) within organisations. However, the more recent emergence of critical perspective literature in this area has shown that these models lack both a strategic formulation influence and a dynamic influence for TQM in organisations. Seeks to combine these influences and to evaluate the role of the strategic dynamics of TQM within organisations. Thus, primarily aims to evaluate the strategic dynamics of TQM within case study organisations using an appropriate evaluative framework. A secondary aim is to perform a meta‐evaluation of this framework. The evaluative framework used for the study is Leonard’s grounded theory framework for TQM strategic dynamics. The model was applied to 57 case studies where a cross case analysis was used to guide the analysis. The findings show that the dynamics of TQM are much more complex and recursive than those shown by current models. Furthermore, the main influence of TQM in the cases was found to be at a tactical level and operational level. Those organisations, which applied TQM at a strategic level, were found to have robust TQM programmes with greater longevity, by using frequent regenerative approaches.