TQM Practices and Innovation Performance: A Review of Current Literature

Abstract

This study explores the trends identified in previous research studies in the area of quality management and innovation performance and has reviewed many research articles from various industries. The study explains why different quality practices are used for better innovation performance in different industries and also explains different scenarios in which the quality practices have a positive or negative influence on innovation performance. The paper firstly categorized these studies according to the journal in which these studies are published then further divide them according to their research design into quantitative, qualitative and review types. The studies are analyzed on set criteria of industry, quality indicators, outcome indicators and results. The trends identified in this paper shows that irrespective of type of industry most studies have found a positive relationship between quality practices and firms innovation performance and in cases where the relationship is week or negative is because of various contextual factors like uncertainty in business environment, firm size, financial resources and firms culture that has modified this relationship.