The Quality Business: Quality Issues and Smaller Firms (Routledge Studies in Small Business, V. 3)

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.

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.

booknews

offers A Fact-based Assessment Of Quality Management Strategies For Those Actively Involved In Implementing Quality Strategies Or Promoting Small Businesses. Subjects Covered Include The Relevance Of Formal Quality Standards To Small Firms, And Definitions And Implementation Of Quality In A Business Context, From Informal Methods To Tqm. Contains Excerpts From Interviews With 150 Owner-managers, And Detailed Case Studies Of Small Firms. Annotation C. By Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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 Based on carefully conducted research, this book is the first to seriously consider quality issues in smaller firms.