| This study conducted an empirical investigation into the extent of quality management practices in the Jamaican manufacturing industry. It evaluated the relationship between total quality management (TQM) practices and organizational performance in Jamaican manufacturing firms. The explanatory-mixed-method design research study compared organizations that have adopted formal TQM programs and organizations without a formal TQM program in place. This study is the first to report on the international competitiveness assessment of Jamaican manufacturing firms with reference to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) criteria for performance excellence. Previous studies on the competitiveness assessment of the Nation State have focused exclusively on the use of economic models. The findings suggested that TQM firms implemented a quality management program with mean levels above 3.8 on the 5-point Likert-Type scale for all 7 MBNQA variables. TQM firms also outperformed non-TQM firms in terms of relative change in domestic sales, export sales, net income, return on assets, and productivity growth. The implications of this study for Business Leaders, Government Officials, and Academia are discussed. For example, Corporate Organizational Leaders wanting to implement quality management initiatives should conduct in-depth self-assessment to determine the extent to which managers within their organizations understand how, what, and why TQM practices enhance competitiveness. |
