Total quality management practices, competitive strategies and financial performance: the case of the Palestinian industrial SMEs

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between total quality management (TQM) practices, competitive strategies - cost leadership and differentiation - and firm performance in the Palestinian economy. Within this study, TQM has been conceptualised as soft and hard practices, in congruence with the literature. An empirical analysis based upon an extensive validation process was applied to refine TQM, competitive strategies and financial performance scales. Data were collected through surveying 202 Palestinian industrial small and medium enterprises. Structural equation modelling was carried out to test the anticipated relationships. Results derived from this study show that TQM practices have an indirect, positive and significant relationship with financial performance through competitive strategies. In addition, a direct, positive and significant relationship between competitive strategies and financial performance was observed. Results derived from this study might help managers to implement TQM practices in order to effectively allocate resources and improve financial performance. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.