Search results

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between quality management practices and SME performance in Ghana.

Based on the literature, the paper adopted the MBNQA variables of leadership, strategic planning, human resource, customer focus, information and analysis, process management, and quality and operational results as tools of quality management practices. Seven hypotheses were postulated to examine the relationship of each of the MBNQA variables with the five SME performance indicators of profitability, customer satisfaction, sales growth, employee morale, and market share. A survey comprising 80 questions was administered to a sample of 200 small firms employing fewer than 50 workers and covering all sectors in Ghana. The questionnaire asked the participants to indicate on a five‐point Likert scale the extent to which each quality management practice was evident or was practiced of those that influence their firms' performance. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS to calculate descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation and regression.

Overall, the paper found a number of significant relationships between the quality management variables and firm performance. It also found support for the argument that quality management practices improve organizational performance in both large and small businesses and in any part of the world.

These findings have added to the body of knowledge that quality management practices improve organizational performance. Contrary to some studies conducted recently in Ghana to investigate the relationship between sophisticated planning and performance that did not find any significant relationship, the study reports a significant positive relationship.

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the level at which total quality management (TQM) practices have been implemented in a mining company in Ghana.

The study was undertaken over a six month period and the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 60 employees. The topics for the questions were on senior management commitment to quality, total quality training, customer driven information, and availability of quality data, TQM methods, and supplier involvement. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate percentage distributions and to determine the level of TQM implementation.

The paper reveals that the company has passed through the introductory stage of the TQM training of top and middle level management and is now at the point of transferring the knowledge to the rest of the employees in the company.

The findings present for the first time TQM implementation in the mining industry in Ghana. The study should be of value to managers who are interested in a comprehensive approach to achieving organizational excellence.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent of implementation of quality management in Ghana.

After thoroughly reviewing and reading available literatures in the field of interest, semi‐structured interview questions were prepared. Semi‐structured interview was opted for, in order to obtain in‐depth responses from the respondents. To cater for inter‐lingual differences and inconsistencies, a double translation of the completed interview questions was necessary.

It was revealed that awareness of quality management is relatively high among the Ghanaian multinational firms that have some degree of expatriate management and they performed fairly well. However, they still trail their international counterparts with similar top management commitment and resource base. On the other hand, the study revealed a low degree of quality awareness among firms owned and managed solely by Ghanaians and their performance, with the exception of long‐established and well‐resourced government enterprises, was poor.

The paper describes an exploratory study. The finding is that quality management practiced by Ghanaian firms (both multinationals and indigenous) is not a total approach and hence the conclusion is that total quality management, by implication, is not yet being practised in Ghana.