Comparing Reasons, Practices and Effects of ISO 9000 Certification and TQM Implementation in Norwegian SMEs and Large Firms

This article records the empirical research that investigates the reasons behind, practices and effects of ISO 9000 certification and Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation in small and medium-sized (SME) and large manufacturing companies. The research is based on a survey of 180 Norwegian manufacturing companies. The main findings are (1) the SMEs implement ISO 9000 standards and TQM mainly because of market and customer demand or external pressure rather than internal initiation; (2) in practicing TQM, the SMEs focus on informal, people-oriented approaches; large firms are relatively more structured, organized and process-oriented; (3) different facets of TQM contribute differently in SMEs and large firms; (4) no significant relation exists between the current ISO 9000 certification and TQM practices/improvement of business performance. The conclusion is that there are some significant differences between SMEs and large firms in implanting ISO 9000 certification and TQM. These differences trigger discussions on practical implications for managers in SMEs and large firms. Finally, the limitations of the research and implications for future research are explored.