Improving Profitability of Very Small and Small Firms: The Impact of Qualiity Practices in the Human Resources Area

Authors

  • Ronald G. Cook Rider University
  • Radha Chaganti Rider University

Abstract

This study compared the quality practices of very small and small firms in the human resources area. Hypotheses relating to empowern1ent, work teams, and training were developed and tested. An analysis revealed that there was a significant difference in empowerment practices between the two groups of firms, but no significant differences in team utilization or employee training. Profitability correlations divulged that team usage and certain aspects of employee training could improve profitability, depending on the size of the firm.

References

Aeppel, T., (1997, September 8). Missing the boss. Wall Street Journal, p. A l.

Ah ire, S. L., & Golhar, D. Y. (1996). Quality management in large vs. small firms: An empirical investigation. Journal of Small Business Management, 34 (2), 1-13.

Albrecht, K., & Zemke, R. (1985). Service America: Doing business in the new economy. Homewood, I L: Dow Jones-Irwin.

Berry, L. L. (1995). On great service: A framework for action. New York, NY: The Free Press. Cole, R. E. ( 1993). Introduction to the special issue on total quality management. California Management Review, 32 (3), 7-1 1.

Cook, R. G., & Barry, D. (1995). Shaping the external environment: A study of small firms' attempts to influence public policy. Business & Society. 34 (3), 317-344.

Curley, J. P. (1994). Awarding qual ity with quality. Quality Digest. 14 (I ), 61-63.

Cusimano, J. M. ( 1993). Creating leaders through employee empowerment. Qual ity Digest, 11(3), 65-68.

Davenport, T. H. (1993). Need radical innovation and continuous improvement? Planning Review, 21 (3), 6-12.

Employer-provided worker training. Facts from EBRI. http://www.ebri.org/facts/0497fact.htm ( I June 1998).

Greising, D. (1994, August 8). Quality: How to make it pay. Business Week. 54-59. Haksever, C. ( 1996). Total quality management in the small business environment. Business Horizons, 39 (2), 33-40.

Haksever, C., Cook, R. G., & Chaganti, R. (1997). Applicability of the gaps model to service quality in small firms. Journal of Small Business Strategy. 8 ( I ), 49-66.

Hoevemeyer, V. A. (September 1993). How effective is your team? Training & Development Journal, 47 (9), 67-71.

Judge, G. G., Griffiths, W. E., Hill, R. C., Lutkepol, H., & Lee, T. (1985). The theory and practice of econometrics (2nd. Ed.). New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Lewis, B. R. (1989). Quality in the service sector: A review. International Journal of Business Management, 7 (5), 4-1 3.

Longenecker, J. G., Moore, C. W., & Petty, J. W. (1997). Small business management: An entrepreneurial emphasis (10th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: South-Western.

Manoochehri, G. ( 1988). J!T for small manufacturers. Journal of Small Business Management, 26 (4), 22-30.

Megginson, W. L., Byrd, M. J., Scott, C. R., & Megginson, L. C. (I994). Small business management: An entrepreneur's guide to success. Burr Ridge, IL: Irwin.

Merron, K. ( 1994). Creating TQM Organizations. Quality Progress. 27 (I), 51-54.

Newman, R. (I988). The buyer-supplier relationship under just-in-time. Production and Inventory Management, 29 (3), 45-49.

Oliver, N. (1988). Em ployee commitment and total quality control. International Journal of Quality and Reliabil ity Management, 7 (1), 21-29.

Schlesinger, L. A., & Heskett, J. L. (1991). Breaking the cycle of failure in service. Sloan Management Review, 32 (3), 17-28.

Scholtes, P. R. (1989). The team handbook. Madison, WI: Joiner associates.

Schonberger, R. J. (1992). ls strategy strategic? Impact of total quality management on strategy. Academy of Management Executive, 6 (3), 80-87.

Sironopolis, N. (1997). Small business management: A guide to entrepreneurship (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Miffiin.

Smith, K. G., Mitchell, T. R., & Summer, C. E. ( 1985). Top management priorities in different stages of organizational life-cycle. Academy of Management Journal. 28, 799-820.

Sonfield, M. (1984). Can Japanese management techniques be applied to American small businesses? Journal of Small business Management,22 (3), 18-23.

Stamati D. H. (1992). Team building and development Southgate, Ml: Contemporary Consultants.

The why and how of training in your busines Hewlett-Packard Small Business Tools. http://intercontent.com/hp/sbnc.cfm?articleid=90 (2 June 1998).

Zeitham l, V. A., Parasuraman, A., & Berry, L. L. ( 1 990). Delivering quality service: Balancing customer perceptions and expectations. New York: The Free Press.

Downloads

Published

1998-06-16

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (1998)

Section

Articles

License

The Journal of Small Business Strategy (the “Publisher”) and the Author(s) agree as follows:
 
1.Author(s) hereby grant to Publisher all right, title, and interest in and to the Work, including copyright to all means of expression by any method now known or hereafter developed, including electronic format. If Publisher does not publish the Work within two (2) years of the Effective Date, copyright shall revert back to the Author. Publisher agrees to always credit Author(s) as the author(s) of the Work.
 
2.Publisher hereby grants Author a royalty-free, limited license for the following purposes, provided the Work is always identified as having first been published by Publisher.
    •The right to make and distribute copies of all or part of the Work for use in teaching;
    •The right to use all or part of the material contained in the Work in a book by the Author(s), or in a collection of the Author(s)’s work;
    •The right to use and distribute the Work internally at the Author(s)’s place of employment, and for promotion and any other non-commercial purposes;
    •The right to use figures and tables from the Work for any purpose;
    •The right to make presentations of material from the Work;
    •The right to use and distribute the Work on the Author(s)’s Web site and on the Author(s)’s university’s institute repository;
Such license shall be effective when the Work is first published in the Journal of Small Business Strategy.
 
3.The Author(s) represents and warrants that the Work: (a) is the Author(s)’s original work and that Author(s) has full power to enter into this agreement; (b) does not infringe the copyright or property right of another; (c) contains no materials which is obscene, libelous, defamatory or violates another’s civil right, right of privacy, or is otherwise unlawful; and (d) has not been previously published, in whole or in part. Author(s) shall indemnify and hold Publisher harmless against loss or expenses arising from breach of any such warranties.

How to Cite

Improving Profitability of Very Small and Small Firms: The Impact of Qualiity Practices in the Human Resources Area. (1998). Journal of Small Business Strategy (archive Only), 9(2), 44-56. https://libjournals.mtsu.edu/index.php/jsbs/article/view/389