Deining Management Method: Subjecting Theory to Moderating and Contextual Effects

Abstract

W. Edwards Deming's ideas on quality management, expressed in hypothetico-deductive theoretical form by Anderson, Rungtusanatham, and Schroeder (1994), have been empirically tested at the organizational level in the manufacturing and service sectors in a handful of Western countries and Japan. These studies show generally good empirical support for the theory, thus providing a plausible “road map” on how organizations succeed through quality management. The authors' study seeks to improve the validity and applicability of the theory. They used a standard measurement instrument to collect data from 367 civil servants from five public-sector organizations in Singapore. Using structural equation modeling data analysis technique, they established that these organizations generally appear to act in a manner consistent with the theory, but the patterns of relationships as predicted by the theory are not completely similar across these organizations. Also, individual-level factors (positional authority and length of tenure) have an impact on how well the theory holds. Further, since the study was in a new industry sector (public sector) and country context (Singapore), the generally positive results enable the authors to tentatively conclude that the theory applies to these contexts.

• Deming
• moderator
• quality management
• public sector
• Singapore
• structural equation modeling
• theory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prakash J. Singh

Prakash J. Singh is an associate professor with the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne in Australia. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Melbourne. Singh's research interests are in the operations and supply chain management area, with specific focus on aspects such as supply chain analysis, quality improvement methods, business excellence and best practice, operations strategy, process management, sustainable operations and supply chains through social investments and innovative operations practices. His research has been published in journals such as Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Production Research and International Journal of Production Economics. His books are titled Operations Management: An Integrated Approach (Cambridge University Press) and What Really Works in Quality Management (Standards Australia). Singh can be reached by email at [email protected].

Chua Ming Wee Dean

Chua Ming Wee Dean completed his bachelor of commerce (Hons) in management degree at the University of Melbourne in Australia. He currently lives and works in Singapore.

Sum Chee-Chuong

Sum Chee-Chuong is an associate professor at the Department of Decision Sciences, NUS Business School, National University of Singapore (NUS). He received his doctorate in operations management from the University of Minnesota. His research has appeared in journals such as Journal of Operations Management, Decision Science, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Production Research, and International Journal of Production Economics and IIE Transactions. His research interests are in operations and supply chain strategy, operations improvement, and enterprise resource planning. He is co-author of the book Operations Management: An Asian Perspective (McGraw Hill).