Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Published:
Journal of the Knowledge Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antunes, M. G., Quirós, J. T., & Justino, M. D. R. F. (2017). The relationship between innovation and total quality management and the innovation effects on organizational performance. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management.

  • Basu, R., Bhola, P., & Das, M. C. (2020). A framework of quality management practices for Indian service SMEs. Quality Management Journal, 27(1), 62–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellaaj, M., Zekri, I., & Albugami, M. (2015). The continued use of e-learning system: An empirical investigation using UTAUT model at the University of Tabuk. Journal of Theoretical & Applied Information Technology, 72(3).

  • Bon, A. T., & Mustafa, E. M. (2013). Impact of total quality management on innovation in service organizations: Literature review and new conceptual framework. Procedia Engineering, 53, 516–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camisón, C., & Puig-Denia, A. (2016). Are quality management practices enough to improve process innovation? International Journal of Production Research, 54(10), 2875–2894.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty, A., Mutingi, M., & Vashishth, A. (2019). Quality management practices in SMEs: a comparative study between India and Namibia. Benchmarking: An International Journal. 26(5), 1499–1516.

  • Chaire performance des organisations de Dauphine. (2014). Certification ISO 9000 et innovation» Cahier de recherche n°1.

  • Cho, H., Lee, P., & Shin, C. H. (2019). Becoming a sustainable organization: Focusing on process administrative innovation and human resource practices. Sustainability, 11(13), 3554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, H., & Zo, H. (2019). Assessing the efficiency of national innovation systems in developing countries. Science and Public Policy, 46(4), 530–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill, G. A., Jr. (1979). A paradigm for developing better measures of marketing constructs. Journal of Marketing Research, 16(1), 64–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cirera, X., & Maloney, W. F. (2017). The innovation paradox: Developing-country capabilities and the unrealized promise of technological catch-up. The World Bank.

  • Cortes, A. F., & Herrmann, P. (2020). CEO transformational leadership and SME innovation: The mediating role of social capital and employee participation. International Journal of Innovation Management, 24(03), 2050024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damanpour, F. (1991). Organizational innovation: A meta-analysis of effects of determinants and moderators. Academy of Management Journal, 34(3), 555–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damanpour, F. (2020). Organizational Innovation: Theory Research and Direction. Edward Elgar Publishing.

  • Escrig-Tena, A. B., Segarra-Ciprés, M., García-Juan, B., & Beltrán-Martín, I. (2018). The impact of hard and soft quality management and proactive behaviour in determining innovation performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 200, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escrig-Tena, A. B., Segarra-Ciprés, M., & García-Juan, B. (2021). Incremental and radical product innovation capabilities in a quality management context: Exploring the moderating effects of control mechanisms. International Journal of Production Economics, 232, 107994.

  • Evrard, Y., Pras, B., & Roux, E. (2003). Market: Études et recherches en marketing (3 (e). Dunod.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fundin, A., Backström, T., & Johansson, P. E. (2021). Exploring the emergent quality management paradigm. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 32(5-6), 476-488.

  • Gupta, A. (2000). Quality management practices of ISO vs non‐ISO companies: a case of Indian industry. Industrial Management & Data Systems.

  • Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Mena, J. A. (2012). An assessment of the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling in marketing research. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(3), 414–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European business review.

  • He, Z., Deng, Y., Zhang, M., Zu, X., & Antony, J. (2017). An empirical investigation of the relationship between Six Sigma practices and organisational innovation. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 28(5–6), 459–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henseler, J., & Fassott, G. (2010). Testing moderating effects in PLS path models: An illustration of available procedures. In Handbook of partial least squares (pp. 713–735). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

  • Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modeling in international marketing. Advances in International Marketing, 20, 277–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoang, D. T., Igel, B., & Laosirihongthong, T. (2006). The impact of total quality management on innovation: Findings from a developing country. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 23(9), 1092–1117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IACE. (2017). Rapport sur la compétitivité de la Tunisie (2ème edition).

  • Ilkay, M. S., & Aslan, E. (2012). The effect of the ISO 9001 quality management system on the performance of SMEs. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management.

  • International Organization for Standardization. (2020). The ISO Survey of Management System Standard Certifications 2019.

  • Kafetzopoulos, D., Gotzamani, K., & Vouzas, F. (2021). Management Innovation Drivers And Outcomes: The Moderating Role Of Organisational Size. International Journal of Innovation Management, 25(02), 2150021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanapathy, K., Bin, C. S., Zailani, S., & Aghapour, A. H. (2017). The impact of soft TQM and hard TQM on innovation performance: The moderating effect of organisational culture. International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 20(4), 429–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, D. A., & Judd, C. M. (1984). Estimating the nonlinear and interactive effects of latent variables. Psychological Bulletin, 96(1), 201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, D. Y., Kumar, V., & Kumar, U. (2012). Relationship between quality management practices and innovation. Journal of Operations Management, 30(4), 295–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao, S. H., Fei, W. C., & Chen, C. C. (2007). Knowledge sharing absorptive capacity and innovation capability: An empirical study of Taiwan’s knowledge-intensive industries. Journal of Information Science, 33(3), 340–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, R. J., Chen, R. H., & Chiu, K. K. S. (2010). Customer relationship management and innovation capability: An empirical study. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 110(1), 111–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lizarelli, F. L., Toledo, J. C. D., & Alliprandini, D. H. (2019). Relationship between continuous improvement and innovation performance: an empirical study in Brazilian manufacturing companies. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 1–24.

  • Manders, B., de Vries, H. J., & Blind, K. (2016). ISO 9001 and product innovation: A literature review and research framework. Technovation, 48, 41–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattoussi, W., & Ayadi, M. (2017). The dynamics of exporting and innovation: Evidence from the Tunisian manufacturing sector. Journal of African Economies, 26(1), 52–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Migdadi, M. M. (2020). Knowledge management customer relationship management and innovation capabilities. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing.

  • Najar, T., Dhaouadi, K., & Zammel, I. B. (2020). Intellectual capital impact on open innovation: The case of technology-based sectors in Tunisia. Journal of Innovation Economics Management, 2, 75–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen, M. H., Phan, A. C., & Matsui, Y. (2018). Contribution of quality management practices to sustainability performance of Vietnamese firms. Sustainability, 10(2), 375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2005). Oslo manual: Proposed guidelines for collecting and interpreting technological innovation data. Paris.

  • OECD. (2018). Oslo manual guidelines for collecting reporting and using data on innovation (4th Edition).

  • Pekovic, S., & Galia, F. (2009). From quality to innovation: Evidence from two French Employer Surveys. Technovation, 29(12), 829–842.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perdomo-Ortiz, J., Gonzalez-Benito, J., & Galende, J. (2009). An analysis of the relationship between total quality management based human resource management practices and innovation. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(5), 1191–1218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pertusa-Ortega, E. M., Tarí, J. J., Pereira-Moliner, J., Molina-Azorín, J. F., & López-Gamero, M. D. (2021). Developing ambidexterity through quality management and their effects on performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, 102720.

  • Prajogo, D. I., & Sohal, A. S. (2003). The relationship between TQM practices quality performance and innovation performance. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 20(8), 901–918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes López, E. D. L., Vega Jurado, J., & Martínez, A. (2006). ISO 9000 in SMEs: the mediating role of quality systems in the innovation performance.

  • Russel, P., Durieu, F., Campoy, E., & Akremi, A. (2002). Méthodes d’équations structurelles: Recherches et application en gestion. Economica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Moreno, A., Haro-Domínguez, C., Tamayo-Torres, I., & Ortega-Egea, T. (2016). Quality management and administrative innovation as firms’ capacity to adapt to their environment. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 27(1–2), 48–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salisu, Y., & Bakar, L. J. A. (2020). The Mediating Role of Innovation Strategy on the Relationship between Relational Capability and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing Economies of Africa. International Journal of Information and Management Sciences, 31(2), 149–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter, J. A. (1934). The theory of economic development: An inquiry into profits capital credit interest and the business cycle. Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segarra-Ciprés, M., Escrig-Tena, A. B., & GarcíaJuan, B. (2017). The link between quality management and innovation performance: A content analysis of survey-based research. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 31(1–2), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, G. M., Gomes, P. J., Lages, L. F., & Lopes, Z. (2014). The role of TQM in strategic product innovation: An empirical assessment. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 34(10), 1307–1337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song, Y., & Su, Q. (2015). The relationship between quality management and new product development: Evidence from China. Operations Management Research, 8(1–2), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinle, C., & Schiele, H. (2008). Limits to global sourcing?: Strategic consequences of dependency on international suppliers: Cluster theory resource-based view and case studies. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 14(1), 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarí, J. J., & Abdullah, M. M. B. (2015). Effects of contextual variables on quality and performance. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 28(1–2), 190–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenenhaus, M., Vinzi, V. E., Chatelin, Y. M., & Lauro, C. (2005). PLS path modeling. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, 48(1), 159–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terziovski, M., & Guerrero, J. L. (2014). ISO 9000 quality system certification and its impact on product and process innovation performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 158, 197–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urban, B., & Toga, M. (2017). Determinants of quality management practices in stimulating product and process innovations. International Journal for Quality Research, 11(4).

  • Vujović, A., Jovanović, J., Krivokapić, Z., Peković, S., Soković, M., & Kramar, D. (2017). The relationship between innovations and quality management system. Tehnicki Vjesnik, 24(2), 551–556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, E. (1999). Communities of practice: Learning meaning and identity. Cambridge university press.

  • Wetzels, M., Odekerken-Schröder, G., & Van Oppen, C. (2009). Using PLS path modeling for assessing hierarchical construct models: Guidelines and empirical illustration. MIS quarterly, 177–195.

  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). (2018). The Global Innovation Index 2018: Energizing the world with innovation. Cornell University INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 11th edition, Genève.

  • Yazdanparast, A., Manuj, I. L. A., Plasch, M., Gerschberger, M., & Freudenthaler, D. (2020). Comparing service product and process innovations: Insights from the internal supply chain network of a European steel manufacturing firm. International Journal of Innovation Management, 24(02), 2050018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, J., Phan, C. A., & Matsui, Y. (2015). The impact of hard and soft quality management on quality and innovation performance: An empirical study. International Journal of Production Economics, 162, 216–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, D., Linderman, K., & Schroeder, R. G. (2012). The moderating role of contextual factors on quality management practices. Journal of Operations Management, 30(1–2), 12–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Higher Institute of Business Administration, PRISME Laboratory, Sfax, Tunisia

    Sonda DAOUD BEN ARAB

Authors
  1. Sonda DAOUD BEN ARAB
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonda DAOUD BEN ARAB.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix. Reliability and Validity of Scales

Appendix. Reliability and Validity of Scales

Items

QM practices

   

Innovation

  
 

Organization

Partnership

Employee Involvement

Leadership

Product innovation

Process innovation

Organizational innovation

Process1

Process2

Process3

Decision1

Decision2

0.754

0.865

0.898

0.685

0.680

      

Customer1 Customer2 Customer3 Supplier2

Supplier3

 

0.716

0.847

0.699

0.651

0.569

     

Emp.Inv1

Emp.Inv2

Emp.Inv3

  

0.588

0.870

0.773

    

Leader1

Leader3

Leader4

   

0.6880.785

0.780

   

Product.Innov2

Product.Innov3

Product.Innov4

Product.Innov5

Product.Innov6

    

0.757

0.771

0.832

0.704

0.749

  

Process.Innov1

Process.Innov2

Process.Innov3

Process.Innov4

     

0.569

0.712

0.890

0.889

 

Org.Innov1

Org.Innov2

Org.Innov3

      

0.846

0.910

0.679

KMO

0.824

   

0.829

Bartlett’s test (sig.)

754,639 (0.00)

   

580,353 (0.00)

% of variance explained

41,410

12,940

8448

7209

46,835

15,390

9726

Eigenvalue

6626

2070

1352

1153

5620

1847

1167

Cronbach alpha

0.88

0.80

0.81

0.80

0.86

0.87

0.81

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

DAOUD BEN ARAB, S. Quality Management Practices and Innovation: the Moderating Effect of ISO 9001 Certification. J Knowl Econ 13, 2177–2202 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00805-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00805-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation