UNSPECIFIED (1998) The determinants of employee responses to total quality management: Six case studies. ORGANIZATION STUDIES, 19 (3). pp. 449-475. ISSN 0170-8406

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Total quality management has been a central element in many efforts directed towards organizational change. Theories tend to fall into two extreme camps, which hold either that TQM transforms attitudes and behaviour or that it is nothing but a means to intensify work and tighten managerial control. More recent analysis is more balanced, but lacks quantitative data on employee responses and also neglects the varying contexts in which TQM exists. This study addresses these issues by taking six named organizations from different sectors of the UK economy and by blending qualitative interviewing with a survey of 280 employees. Findings show a wide acceptance of quality principles but tin contrast to the transformation view) little evidence of substantial empowerment of workers. Compared with the intensification view, growing work effort was not widely disliked, and, crucially, favourable views of quality were strongest, not weakest, where the monitoring of workers was most intense. Multivariate analysis supports the 'disciplined worker' thesis, that quality is most accepted where there is a controlled work environment. Case material indicates that the conditions For success in quality programmes are notably high job security and a co-operative relationship with trade unions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Journal or Publication Title:	ORGANIZATION STUDIES
Publisher:	WALTER DE GRUYTER & CO
ISSN:	0170-8406
Date:	1998
Volume:	19
Number:	3
Number of Pages:	27
Page Range:	pp. 449-475
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/15479

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item