A Holistic Framework for TQM in the Software Industry: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach

Abstract

Global competition, which has now become fierce because of advancements in technology and changing equations in the global economy, has made its impact on the software industry as well. Software quality practitioners are looking upon total quality management (TQM), which is a melange of carefully fabricated approaches from several disciplines, as a competitive strategy for survival and dominance in the market. An understanding of the critical factors of software quality management would help the implementation of TQM in the software industry. In this article, the authors identify the critical factors of TQM in the software industry. Based on the identified constructs, a framework for quality management is presented. An instrument for measuring the levels of quality management practices in software organizations is also presented. The instrument is empirically tested for validity and reliability of its constructs by using a confirmatory factor analysis technique. It is perhaps the first time that an extensive study, with in-depth literature survey on quality management in the software industry followed by empirical analyses, has been undertaken to develop a holistic framework for TQM in the software industry.

• conceptual framework
• confirmatory factor analysis
• software quality management
• TQM

Additional information

Notes on contributors

George Issac

George Issac is an assistant professor at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, Kothamangalam, India. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Kerala University, a master's degree in industrial management, and a doctorate from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. His research areas of interest are TQM and organizational behavior. He has published articles in Total Quality Management and Business Excellence.

Chandrasekharan Rajendran

Chandrasekharan Rajendran is a professor of operations management in the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. His research interests are in TQM, scheduling, and simulation. He has published articles in international journals including Total Quality Management, International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Service Industry Management, International Journal of Bank Marketing, and Journal of Services Marketing. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

R. N. Anantharaman

R. N. Anantharaman is a professor of management at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. His research interests are in TQM, organizational behavior, and industrial psychology. He has published several articles in the areas of TQM, human resources, and change management in such journals as Total Quality Management, International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Bank Marketing, International Journal of Service Industry Management, Journal of Services Marketing, and others.