The Quality Business: Quality Issues in the Smaller Firm / Edition 1

by Robert Blackburn, James Curran, Julian North

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415146081
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/25/1997
Series:	Routledge Studies in Entrepreneurship and Small Business , #3
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1480L (what's this?)

About the Author

Julian North is a Researcher in the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University., Robert A.Blackburn is Director of the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University., James Curran is Emeritus Professor of Small Business Studies at Kingston University.,

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Small firms and quality management; Chapter 2 Quality: definitions and conceptualisations; Chapter 3 Researching quality in small firms: the methodological issues; Chapter 4 Small firms and quality: a quantitative approach; Chapter 5 Small firms and quality: owner-managers' strategies; Chapter 6 Small firms and formal methods of quality control; Chapter 7 A theorisation of quality management strategies in small firms; Appendix: the case studies;4 Case Study 1: Genprint Printers; Case Study 2: Compsys; Case Study 3: Transys; Case Study 4: Electromend; Case Study 5: Autorep; Case Study 6: Meditron; Case Study 7: Beeplant; Case Study 8: Console; Case Study 9: Electrico; Case Study 10: Paperco; Notes; References; Author Index; Subject Index;

Editorial Reviews

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.

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