Determinants of expected performance after ISO 9001 certification withdrawal

Abstract

ISO 9001 certification impact on firm performance has been extensively researched. However, despite the high number of firms withdrawing from this certification, the impact of decertification has not received much research attention. This study contributes to filling this gap by analysing the factors that influence the expected performance after decertification (EPAD). The study reviews relevant literature and develops a structural equation model (PLS-SEM) with data from 231 certified organisations. Results reveal that the main factors influencing EPAD are external decertification motivations and internal certification benefits. Internal benefits have a U-shaped relationship with EPAD and external decertification motivations a positive linear relationship. Results show also a negative direct impact of external benefits on EPAD, which is counterbalanced and cancelled by a positive indirect impact from the same variable. Certification barriers and internal decertification motivations have no significant effect. This study is the first to identify and analyse the factors affecting EPAD and, as such, the study findings constitute innovative contributions to the literature. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for (1) the estimation of EPAD, (2) the decision to renew (or not) the certificate, and (3) further suggest that EPAD is a better predictor of decertification than past certification benefits.

Keywords:

• abandonment
• barriers
• benefits
• cancellation
• certification
• decertification
• ISO 9000
• maintenance
• motivations
• obstacles
• performance
• prediction
• quality
• renewal
• revocation

Acknowledgment

The authors are pleased to acknowledge the participation of all survey respondents. The authors are also grateful for the insightful comments from two anonymous reviewers and from our colleagues Manuela M. Silva, Patricia S.L.G.S. Pinto and Rúben M.T. Peixinho.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Although there are contradictions in the field, there are also some apparent contradictions of easy clarification. Please see also Endnote 2.

2 Although there are contradictions in the field, there are also some apparent contradictions of easy clarification. Kiryanto et al. (2021), for instance, suggest that their results do not support Cândido et al. (2016). However, Kiryanto et al.’s study addresses the impact of the ‘initial ISO 9001 certification’, whereas Cândido et al. (2016) address the impact of ‘certification withdrawal’. In addition, Kiryanto et al. (2021) consider a sample of companies that recently announced their certification, whereas Cândido et al. (2016) consider a sample of companies that lost the certification after being certified for several years. Lastly, the ‘event’ in Kiryanto et al. is ‘certification’, whereas the ‘event’ in Cândido et al. is ‘certification withdrawal’. Consequently, these two studies are not comparable, and it does not seem plausible for Kiryanto et al.’s (2021) study to be able to present evidence either in support or against the results and implications in Cândido et al. (2016).

Additional information

Funding

This paper is financed by National Funds of the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project UIDB/04007/2020.