This book is the first to seriously consider quality issues in smaller firms, based upon well-conducted research and careful theorizing. Subjects covered include:* the relevance of formal quality standards such as BS 5750 to small firms* definitions and implementations of 'quality' in a business context, from formal standards to Total Quality Management* interviews with a selected sample of over 150 owner-managers* detailed case studies of small firms* analysis of self-generated quality strategies* the variety of formal methods of quality control.
Author(s): Julian North
Edition: 1
Year: 1998
Language: English
Pages: 248
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
List of tables......Page 9
Notes on authors......Page 11
Preface......Page 12
Small firms and quality management......Page 14
Quality: definitions and conceptualisations......Page 36
Researching quality in small firms: the methodological issues......Page 57
Small firms and quality: a quantitative approach......Page 68
Small firms and quality: owner-managers' strategies......Page 96
Small firms and formal methods of quality control......Page 126
A theorisation of quality management strategies in small firms......Page 164
Appendix: the case studies......Page 186
Notes......Page 226
References......Page 235
Author index......Page 242
Subject index......Page 244
