Advancing theory development in total quality management: A “Deming management method” perspective
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 1 August 2003
Abstract
The Deming management method, which encompasses the breadth of W. Edwards Deming's approach to quality management, has had significant impact on the practice and scholarship of quality management. In this paper we present a scholarly introspection and discussion on scientific research related to the Deming management method, the contributions of such research to theory development in quality management, and future research directions to pursue in order to continue to advance scientific knowledge in quality management. In doing so, we traced the historical development of the Deming management method. We present and discuss two streams of research related to the Deming management method, namely the concept of profound knowledge and the Deming‐based theory of TQM. We also highlight several opportunities for future research that would advance theory development in the TQM discipline – opportunities anchored by the imperative for confirmatory research that requires proper operationalization and primary data, and the plausibility of theory refinement and extension through the specification of new relationships and the inclusion of moderators and mediators.
Keywords
Citation
Rungtusanatham, M., Ogden, J.A. and Wu, B. (2003), "Advancing theory development in total quality management: A “Deming management method” perspective", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 23 No. 8, pp. 918-936. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570310486356
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited