Relationship between Quality-Management Systems and Organizational Innovations

The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether there is any correlation between the implementation of quality-management systems (QMSs) in manufacturing firms and the use of certain organizational innovations in those firms. A conceptual model of the relationships among the constructs of "organizational innovations" and "level of quality management" is proposed and tested. The study finds a correlation between the level of quality management in an organization and the implementation of procedural organizational innovations. Because the study is pioneering and exploratory in nature, the analysis is confined to the use of a limited number of organizational innovations in Spanish manufacturing firms. The findings will assist managers to make appropriate strategic decisions when implementing QMSs. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.