Leadership styles and their relationship with TQM focus for Indian firms: An empirical investigation

Enhancing Occupational Health and Safety Through Strategic Leadership: The Mediating Role of Total Quality Management in Hodeida Hospitals, Yemen

Background

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a critical concern in healthcare settings, particularly in resource-constrained environments where safety challenges often compromise staff well-being and patient care. Effective leadership and quality management are increasingly recognized as essential for addressing these challenges.

Objective

This study investigates the impact of Strategic Leadership (SL) on the Occupational Health and Safety System (OHS) in hospitals, with Total Quality Management (TQM) serving as a mediating factor. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design.

Methodology

Data were collected from 323 healthcare professionals across six hospitals in Hodeida, Yemen, covering both medical and administrative roles. Partial Least-Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the data, examining both direct and indirect relationships among the study variables.

Results

The findings reveal that SL positively influences OHS directly and indirectly through TQM. Specifically, leadership practices that emphasize strategic direction, ethical conduct, and organizational control contribute to fostering a safer work environment. TQM enhances this effect by strengthening operational efficiencies and standardizing safety protocols. These results underscore the critical role of integrated leadership and quality management in advancing OHS practices in resource-constrained healthcare settings.

Conclusion

The study offers practical implications for hospital administrators seeking to improve safety and performance through a combined focus on leadership and quality management. Future research should explore these dynamics in different sectors and geographical contexts to validate and extend these findings.

Evaluation of organizational variables of quality 4.0 in digital transformation: the study of an Indian manufacturing company

Purpose

The study aims to identify organizational variables of quality 4.0 for an Indian manufacturing company in the case of digital transformation. Furthermore, the organization enhances its quality 4.0 performances to its success based on the degree of relevance of these variables, insight into these variables and sub-factors to prioritize them.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, two rounds of the survey were conducted with 11 decision-makers from the company made to receive organizational variables scores and prioritize the factors and sub-factors. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based research methodology has been proposed to assign the criterion weights and prioritize the identified variables.

Findings

The results of this AHP model demonstrate that “Committed Leadership” is recognized as the top positioned variable and most significant organizational variable, followed by Collaboration and Quality culture, which are developed at the next level. These essential organizational variables with their sub-categories' priorities are identified as contributing attributes.

Research limitations/implications

The findings facilitate quality 4.0 in the digitalization era, which take into contemplating the current state of the business. Furthermore, the understanding of variables provides insightful guidance to analyze, solve complex problems and assess the efficacy of quality 4.0 in digital transformation.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to pinpoint, and evaluate the responsible organizational variables and prioritize them that lead to high productivity and competitive advantage considering the AHP method.

A citizen-centric approach to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals: Empirical evidence from India

A citizen-centric approach was used to understand the effectiveness of e-government web portals in India. So, the study aims to find the factors of e-government (i.e., information clarity and appropriateness, relevance & usefulness, information accuracy & completeness, system security, users’ privacy, system stability, and interactive services) and their influence on citizen perception, citizen satisfaction, and users’ intention. Since the e-government web portal is for the citizen of a country and random sampling is more appropriate. So, our study did the same with a modified scale. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model was applied to show model fit and multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the final data. The results revealed that the factors of e-government positively impact quality perception, citizen satisfaction, and Users’ intention toward e-government. Further, data analysis has enough evidence to say e-government quality perception and citizen satisfaction mediate the relationship between factors of e-government and Users’ intention. This investigation outlines how the government designs its e-government portal to enhance citizen satisfaction, citizen perception in terms of e-government quality, and users’ intentions.

Adoption of ICTs as an emergent business strategy during and following COVID-19 crisis: evidence from Indian MSMEs

Purpose

This study aims to identify how ICT appeared as an emergent business strategy and to investigate the impact of ICT adoption factors on the perceived benefits of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 393 responses from Indian small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) were collected for the final analysis. The study presents the partial least-squares structural equation modeling with the Chi-square test and descriptive analysis as a methodology based on numerous independent variables and one dependent variable.

Findings

The findings indicate that ICT adoption during and following the COVID-19 pandemic is constant in nature of the enterprise. Moreover, the results indicate that different adoption of ICT factors influence on perceived benefits of organizational performance of Indian MSMEs that lent good support except for the regulatory framework.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the current research help Indian MSMEs to take investment decisions in various technologies that help the organization. Furthermore, managers and practitioners help the organization in deciding which technology adoption factors are more critical to the betterment of the organization.

Originality/value

The study found certain ICT adoption factors that have a significant role in organizational performance in Indian MSMEs. Moreover, during COVID-19, investigate ICTs' role as a business strategy.

Total quality leadership and organizational innovativeness: the role of social capital development in American schools

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between total quality leadership, social capital development and organizational innovativeness in the school environment. While there are research studies focused on the impact of leadership on implementing quality management practices, innovation and organizational performance, the mediating effect of social capital development has not been explored on the influence of the school leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the purpose of this study, data collected from 158 principals, who participated in the Teaching and Learning International Survey 2018, were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study found that total quality learning-oriented school leaders are supportive of developing social capital in their schools, and such social capital development is very useful to improve organizational innovativeness. Interestingly, social capital development has been found to mediate the relationship between total quality learning-oriented school leadership and organizational innovativeness.

Practical implications

This study submits evidence for two major activities that school leaders perform: learning- and control-oriented activities, both being important for improving and measuring quality in the educational sector. This study clearly shows that control-oriented activities lean toward negatively on social capital while learning-oriented activities strongly and positively influence social capital development. From this study, practitioners can be aware and consciously promote social capital development in schools and that social capital development mediates the influence of total quality leadership and innovation in schools.

Originality/value

Schools can be visualized as guarded communities for creating a secure environment for students in support of learning. This research study shows that the combined cognitive capital, structural capital and relational capital mediate the impacts of total quality leadership on innovativeness in schools. Thus, school leaders should first establish a mechanism to develop social capital among their employees to bring up innovative initiatives.

Continuous improvement behaviors and impacts on innovation

Purpose

This paper investigates whether adopting continuous improvement (CI) behaviors is related to better radical and incremental product and process innovation performance and identifies whether CI behaviors positively affect respondent perceptions on CI contributions to innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 139 firms in Brazil, and cluster analysis was used to identify groups with different CI adoption levels. The nonparametric Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test was used to verify differences in innovation performance at companies via manager perceptions on CI and innovation.

Findings

Data show that more CI behavior implementation was associated with better product and process innovation performance. Furthermore, companies with more mature CI behavior levels innovate more, which may reinforce CI investments.

Practical implications

Organizational managers focused on innovation should dedicate time to evaluating and developing CI behaviors, and maturing CI philosophies to improve performance. This study can contribute to the literature by offering insights for developing public policies, especially for emerging economies, or for companies seeking to become more competitive, since CI can foster and promote a culture of long-term innovation.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that a relationship between CI and operational performance has already been established, there is still a lack of research that identifies the impacts of CI behavior on innovation. Focusing on CI behavior is important because it can be fostered by various programs and improvement initiatives, highlighting paths for managerial practices and academia. This study was conducted for an emerging economy.

The transformational leadership role in achieving organizational resilience through adaptive cultures: the case of Dubai service sector

Purpose

This empirical research draws on the existing theory of transformational leadership, adaptive culture and organizational resilience, and investigates the effect of the elected TQM leadership style “transformational leadership” through the mediating effect of adaptive culture on organizational resilience, that is the key of survival during crises like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely impacted the business globally.

Design/methodology/approach

This study exploited a cross-sectional online questionnaire of a random sample of Dubai service firms, with the unit of analysis being at the firm level. In total, 379 usable responses were received. Regression analysis was conducted to test hypotheses.

Findings

The overall findings of this study supported that transformational leadership is positively associated with both adaptive culture and firm's resilience and significantly impacts them. Adaptive culture was found partially mediating the effect of transformational leadership on organizational resilience.

Practical implications

The research findings provide important insights to practitioners (managers and leaders) to better improve their transformational qualities, as these qualities are expected to improve the organizational adaptive cultures and capacity of resilience.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies to examine the transformational leadership effect on organizational adaptive culture and firm's resilience. This investigation expands the boundaries of leadership style theory into new arenas, attempting to partially address the identified knowledge gap in this vein.

Servant leadership and employee productivity: a mediating and moderating role

Purpose

This study aims to determine the relationship between servant leadership, innovation self-efficacy, corporate work culture and employee productivity in mediating and moderating role.

Design/methodology/approach

The research sample was 72 supervisors and 576 employees from 72 food and beverage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in three major cities in Indonesia. SPSS and AMOS were used to test the research hypothesis using the hierarchical regression analysis test.

Findings

The results show that there was a positive and significant effect between servant leadership on innovation self-efficacy and employee productivity. Innovation self-efficacy mediates the relationship between servant leadership and employee productivity. Corporate work culture moderated the relationship between innovation self-efficacy and employee productivity.

Research limitations/implications

Future research with larger samples are needed to determine the relationship between servant leadership, innovation self-efficacy, corporate work culture and employee productivity more clearly not only on food and beverage SMEs but also on other industries. Future research needs to be carried out using experimental and longitudinal research designs.

Practical implications

There are three important practical implications based on the findings of this study. First, the results of the study provide new ideas for SME managers on how to increase the productivity of their employees, by using servant leadership which is known to be the main driver for innovation self-efficacy behavior. Second, the mediating role of innovation self-efficacy requires managers to build employee self-efficacy behavior, share more power with employees and make employees more involved in decision-making, which in turn can increase employee confidence and motivation, and their productivity. Finally, managers must realize the need to create a productive work culture in the company, by taking various actions, such as giving rewards to productive employees, making clear regulations on the company regarding working hours and company targets, and must pay attention and respect the employee's views and opinions to improve employee identification of their leaders.

Originality/value

This is the first study to build and examine the direct and indirect relationship (mediating and moderating role) between servant leadership, innovation self-efficacy, corporate work culture and employee productivity in food and beverage SMEs.

The interaction between leadership styles and their followers' human capital: a correspondence analysis approach applied to micro-sized businesses

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the tendency of leaders to select their followers depending on their human capital factors such as age, education level, previous working experience and training.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants were 1,388 employees working in a randomly selected sample of 289 small-sized businesses operating in Yemen. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the data. The correspondence analysis method was used to explore the tendency of leaders to select their followers depending on their human capital factors.

Findings

We found significant corresponding relationships between leadership styles and the selection of the followers' human capital factors. The passive avoidant style was found to select middle-age, long-experience and fully-trained followers. Transactional style on the other hand was found to select young, middle-level experience and non-trained followers. The transformational leadership style was found to have no selection preferences towards any of the human capital factors except for working experience.

Originality/value

Although, some previous studies tried to understand the leaders–followers relationships, no one investigated the tendency of leaders to select their followers according to their preferences. This study contributes significantly to the leaders–followers theory by studying the selection process of the leadership style of their followers' human capital factors. Understanding this phenomenon could help explain why some leadership styles are more effective than others, especially in very limited resources contexts such as micro-sized businesses.

Dynamics of a medium value consumer apparel supply chain key parameters

Purpose

This research presents a study on the supply chain process of an Indian apparel industry considering various parameters involved. The study aims to identify the main parameters to improve the supply chain process and develop a comprehensive structural relationship to rank them to streamline the apparel supply chain process and business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The team of five experts from this apparel industry was made to give scores to multiple parameters. The TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) technique is used to develop the model for eleven key parameters and then rank them.

Findings

Based on the data analysis the planning, customer and warehouse storage have emerged as top three key parameters while the non-replenishment approach, push and pull strategy and manufacturing of the product are identified as the bottom three parameters from a hierarchy level. These parameters have been ranked based on their contributing attributes in this apparel supply chain process.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides an overall ranking of parameters and the implications are in the direction of helping the industry to improve its supply chain performances rather than focus only on productivity. Further, the key parameters are identified as critical inputs and show that the firms are being more proactive and well prepared comprised of the industry.

Originality/value

The study indicates that the key parameters are identified by this apparel brand to improve its supply chain process. The key supply chain process involves planning, manufacturing, distribution, end customer and returns logistics of the goods, etc. So, this research also provides the focused parameters on the supply chain performance received by end customer from the supplier and rank them for effectiveness and improve their overall organizational performance. It also provides a critical observation of their supply chain process improvement which includes different brand uses, strategies and approaches.

Does transformational leadership influence TQM practices? A comparison analysis between manufacturing and service firms

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the existing literature that relates leadership style to total quality management (TQM) focus. Specifically, the study evaluates whether and how leadership style may affect the implementation of TQM practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from employees of different organizations operating in the manufacturing (n = 156) and service sectors (n = 147). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as structural equation modeling were adopted to test the hypothesized research model.

Findings

The results revealed that transformational leadership has a positive impact in the implementation of TQM practices (e.g., customer focus, process management, human resource management, strategic planning and learning). It was also found that, regardless of industry type, manufacturing or service, transformational leadership has a significantly positive influence on TQM practices. In addition, it was noted that manufacturing companies showed a higher level of TQM practices than did service companies.

Originality/value

This study represents, to the best of the author’s knowledge, the first empirical examination of the relationship between transformational leadership and TQM in the service and manufacturing industries, with the goal of determining the differences between these two sectors. The study's conclusions may be useful for service and manufacturing organizations in achieving more effective leadership in the implementation of TQM.

Identifying organizational variables to the implementation of horizontal strategy in conglomerates

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate organizational variables and develop their relationship with horizontal strategy. The cultural dimensions and organization structure have been considered as organizational variables. The study also aims to shed light on the implementation horizontal strategy in conglomerates.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out with 122 conglomerate firms for examination. These companies were chosen to be of different sizes and sectors. The multiple regression analysis was utilized to analyze the data.

Findings

The results reveal that conglomerate firms also have a horizontal strategy. Additionally, organizational cultural dimensions namely, collectivism, clan culture, market culture and long-term orientation; formal and informal relationship; and horizontal organization structure (HOS) have positive and significant relationship with horizontal strategy. No significant relationship was found between uncertainty avoidance and adhocracy culture, and horizontal strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The major contributions of this study are explicitly identified as horizontal strategy exists in the conglomerate firms where the few organizational variables play a significant role in horizontal strategy implementation.

Originality/value

This study has been done in an effort to make supporting guidelines to fill the gaps in conglomerate firms. This study offers an effective role of cultural dimensions and structure as drivers of horizontal strategy implementation, and this study spells out and extends the literature and proposes a conceptual framework.

Let's get everyone involved! The effects of transformational leadership and organizational culture on organizational excellence

Purpose

This paper posited a dynamic relationship between transformational leadership, organizational culture, and organizational excellence in order to develop a better understanding of the casual linkages between these three areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology includes a multi-item scale questionnaire survey which included 448 samples from United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an average response rate of 61.1%. The hypotheses were tested by applying structural equation modeling (SEM) and path analyses. Analyses used the Mplus software package.

Findings

The key finding in this study suggests that creating the involvement culture provides the all-inclusive participation and holistic engagement from employees, which consequently leads to organizational excellence.

Research limitations/implications

The study is more focused on particular type of leadership and can extend to other types of leadership as well the other regions. The study extends the findings of previous studies that suggested authoritative was essential initially but that this would change with the emerging culture.

Practical implications

Managers should foster an involvement culture and adopt transformational leadership style in order to reap the benefits of the quality management approaches.

Originality/value

From existing research on leadership in QM context, we adopt transformational leadership in connection with organizational culture and organizational excellence. The originality of the study lies in its quantitative approach to test an already demonstrated phenomenon about the relationship between transformational leadership, organizational culture and business excellence. This study significantly contributes to the literature on QM by discovering that organizations with transformational leadership styles and involvement or adaptability cultures can perform well and achieve organizational excellence.

Barriers to Total Quality Management for sustainability in Indian organizations

Purpose

The paper aims to identify key human and operational focused barriers to the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM). It develops a comprehensive structural relationship between various barriers to successfully implement TQM for sustainability in Indian organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of expert opinions and extant literature review, we identified the case of TQM failure companies and barriers to implement TQM effectively. Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and fuzzy MICMAC techniques are employed to develop a structural model and the identified barriers are categorized based on their dependence and driving power in the various categories.

Findings

From the intensive case analysis, we identify fourteen barriers that constrain the successful implementation of TQM. The findings also provide a hierarchy of barriers in which the absence of top management involvement and ineffective leadership are the human barriers having the highest dependence.

Research limitations/implications

The critical inputs show the implementation of TQM in the firms being more proactive and well prepared in the selected five companies. The study's emphasis on barriers will help organizations in implementing TQM for better sustainability in an organizational context.

Originality/value

In the successful implementation of TQM, barriers need to be identified because failure has often eliminated the organizations from the market. Thus, TQM is the source of strength to achieve higher productivity, profitability, and sustainable business performance. The barriers must be identified to improve organizational performance to contribute to sustainable development.

Prioritize the key parameters of Vietnamese coffee industries for sustainability

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical parameters of the Vietnam coffee industry and develop a comprehensive structural relationship to rank them for effective sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The team of ten experts, having experience of over eight years in the field of various coffee industries in Vietnam, was created to give scores to multiple parameters. Technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to develop the model for fifteen key parameters and then to rank them.

Findings

From the data analysis and results, marketing and brand innovation, product quality, strategic planning and implementation have emerged as top three key parameters while new technology development, supply chain and logistics management, and alliance-joint venture are identified as the bottom three parameters. The findings provide a rank of parameters that help to other coffee industries to identify their key parameters. Besides, the key parameters defined as necessary inputs show the firms more active and well-prepared comprised of ten companies.

Practical implications

The key parameters of the success of any organization are essential contributions. Aiming to improve organizational performance, metrics should be identified as the source of strength to achieve high productivity, profitability and sustainable business performance.

Originality/value

The emphasis of study on key parameters will help organizations to achieve competitive advantage and high productivity for high sustainability in an organizational context.