CO-alignment between technology management and total quality management practices

Abstract

The emergence of TQM has been one of the major developments in management practice in the last two decades. The recognition of TQM as a source of competitive advantage has been widely promoted around the world, especially in Western countries, and today very few (especially manufacturing) companies can afford to ignore the term (Prajogo, 2005). On the other hand, effective application of technology is a key source of competitive advantage for modem industry. However, the co-alignment between Technology Management systems into established business processes represents a continuing challenge to many firms. It will be valuable for manufacturing organizations to identify this co-alignment and integration between TQM and Technology Management to set successful competitive strategies. Recent research justifies that TQM affects directly as well as indirectly on inventory, quality and financial performance of the organizations (Kaynak, 2003). The integrative effect of marketing and TQM on organizational performance (motivation, marketing, productivity and societal) is also found to be significant. Another research done based on Australian organizations (Prajogo and Sohal, 2006) justifies that TQM and technologylR&D practices moderately co-aligned with each other and this leads to enhance organizational quality and innovative performance.