A meta-analysis of the relationship between quality management and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises
综合31项实证研究，发现中小企业质量管理与技术创新、非技术创新和绿色创新正相关，且领导风格（如魅力型、团队导向型）能增强这一关系，而人本型和自我保护型领导风格则削弱它。
This paper presents a comprehensive meta-analysis examining the relationship between Quality Management (QM) and innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Through a statistical synthesis of the findings of 31 empirical studies published between 2008 and 2022, this meta-analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between QM and diverse innovation types in SMEs. More specifically, the results show that total quality management, soft and hard quality management practices and quality management systems all positively correlate with technological, non-technological and green innovations. Importantly, the results underscore the pivotal role of leadership styles – charismatic, team-oriented, participative and autonomous – in enhancing the QM-innovation relationship, while human-oriented and self-protective styles appear to diminish it. The findings offer strategic insights for SMEs managers to optimize innovation through tailored quality initiatives and leadership style.