Using behavior theory to investigate individual-level determinants of employee involvement in TQM

Abstract

Although much has been written about total quality management and employee involvement, little attention has been paid to individual-level determinants of employee's involvement in total quality management. The use of behaviour theory to formulate propositions regarding the determinants is especially scare in the total quality management and employee involvement literature. The major objective of the present research was to isolate individual-level factors that would enhance or hamper employee's involvement in continuous improvement activities related to work quality. The present research used the theory of reasoned action, the theory of planned behaviour and the technology acceptance model as bases to develop a causal model. On-site surveys were conducted at a leading Chinese cigarette firm having implemented total quality management over 10 years. The developed model was tested by means of structural equation modeling using LISREL. The results supported the model. The findings revealed that intentions to involve in the activities are the major contributor to employee involvement behaviour, and that these intentions are influenced firstly, by attitude towards involvement and, secondly, by professional ethics, self-efficacy, subjective norm, and perceived empowerment, and that these attitudes are influenced firstly by perceived usefulness, and secondly by perceived risk. Self-efficacy and perceived empowerment are also significant predictors of employee involvement behaviour. The implications of the research for managers and researchers, as well as research limitations, are also discussed.