Abstracts » Business

Total quality management as competitive advantage: a review and empirical study

Article Abstract:

The ability of total quality management (TQM) to become a possible source of sustainable competitive advantage was investigated. The study was conducted in three phases. The researchers first reviewed the literature on TQM, went through TQM training, and created and pretested measurement scales for the TQM variables. They then mailed the pretested survey to CEOs of companies located in the northeastern US. Finally, the researchers interviewed the chief executives as well as quality executives in firms also located in the northeastern US but did not participate in the survey. Results showed that strategic advantages do not generally result from TQM-related features but are generated through some tacit, behavioral, imperfectly imitable features. It is thus opined that the success of TQM success does not emerge out of TQM tools and techniques but from these tacit resources.

Total quality management

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Organizational alignment as competitive advantage

Article Abstract:

Organizational alignments can help companies generate above-average profits and can form an important source of sustainable competitive advantage. An empirical study covering the wood upholstered furniture industry and the women's clothing industry supports this view. An analysis of the financial performance of these two industries reveals that organizational alignments can provide above-average profits independent of profits resulting from traditional variables such as company strategy, market share, industry effects and strategic group membership.

Women's and Misses' Outerwear, Household Furniture, Economic aspects, Women's clothing industry, Clothing industry, Furniture industry, Business planning, Industrial organization

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Varieties of competitive parity

Article Abstract:

Research examines profit rates among US industries to explain why some corporations maintain greater performance than others. Topics include the use of null models in strategic research.

United States, Science & research, Corporate Profits, Competition (Economics), Profit, Profits

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