Quality Management and Cooperative Values: Investigation of Multilevel Influences on Workgroup Performance
研究了组织层面和工作组层面的质量管理实践如何通过合作价值观影响工作组绩效，并比较了单层与多层模型的解释力，为质量改进的资源分配提供管理启示。
ABSTRACT Unsuccessful quality initiatives often are attributed to an organizational culture that does not recognize the importance of the cooperative values that underlie “soft” quality management practices, like customer focus and empowerment. Yet, the literature remains unclear as to how quality management and cooperative values interrelate by failing to incorporate the multilevel influences on this relationship in organizations. This research analyzes a multilevel model based on sociotechnical systems and quality management theories. Secondary data are used to test an explanation of how organizational‐level and workgroup‐level quality management practices relate to cooperative cultural values and workgroup performance. A single‐level model is also tested to demonstrate its inadequacies. Based upon the support for a multilevel model, managerial insights are provided that aid in deciding where resources should be allocated during a quality initiative.