Key middle manager trustworthy behaviours that enhance operator participation in continuous improvement systems
International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences
ISSN: 1756-669X
Article publication date: 10 August 2020
Issue publication date: 1 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify key middle manager trustworthy behaviours that encourage employees’ participation in continuous improvement activities in industrial contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
The list of behaviours has been developed in two different phases. First, the authors conducted two concept mappings with operators and middle managers and, subsequently, the authors combined and integrated both points of view. Second, the authors developed an expert panel with researchers, consultants and experienced practitioners of industrial management for debugging and reducing the results, presenting the final list of behaviours.
Findings
This work presents 55 different middle manager trustworthy behaviours divided into four different categories: human qualities; training and development; technical and managerial competencies; and team building.
Research limitations/implications
This paper contributes to existing literature about sustainable continuous improvement systems highlighting the role of middle managers and proposes a set of specific middle manager trustworthy behaviours for increasing supervisors’ influence on operator participation.
Originality/value
After extracting the knowledge of different stakeholders, the list of behaviours identified can serve as a useful tool for recruiting, training, evaluating and developing a supervisors’ managerial style that enhances operator participation in continuous improvement activities.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the support received from JSLL and to all the middle managers, operators and experts who participate in this study.
Citation
Lleo, A., Viles, E., Jurburg, D. and Santos, J. (2020), "Key middle manager trustworthy behaviours that enhance operator participation in continuous improvement systems", International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 229-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-10-2019-0118
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited