Description
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.
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;
