Title: The relationship between TQM practices and role stressors

Authors: Zahra Fallah Ebrahimi; Reza Hosseini Rad

Addresses: Department of Engineering, École Polytechnique, University De Montréal, Quebec, Canada ' Department of Industrial Engineering, École Polytechnique, University De Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Abstract: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are comprised 90% of all enterprises in Iran. In this regards they have significant role in the development of the country's economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework to investigate the impact of multidimensionality of total quality management practices on the role stressors. Numerous studies have been done by other researchers on the quality revolution and implemented various Total Quality Management (TQM) programs such as ISO 9000 series as a way to improve quality. This paper investigates the multidimensional relationships between eight TQM practices and role stressors. The empirical data was gathered from 410 Iranian manufacturing SMEs and analysed by using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique. The findings indicate important association among leadership, information analysis; supplier management, employee involvement, process management and human resources focus with role stressors but no significant relationship between customer focus and supplier management with role stressors.

Keywords: TQM; total quality management; manufacturing SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; role conflict; role overload; role ambiguity; SEM; structural equation modelling; role stressors; Iran; leadership; information analysis; employee involvement; process management; human resources; customer focus; supplier management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2017.084934

International Journal of Management Practice, 2017 Vol.10 No.3, pp.295 - 325

Received: 08 Mar 2016
Accepted: 12 Aug 2016
Published online: 09 Jul 2017 *

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