TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) AND PERFORMANCE OF FAST-FOOD SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Ukenna, Stephen and Anionwu, Carol and Afunwa, P. (2013) TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) AND PERFORMANCE OF FAST-FOOD SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA. Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2 (2). pp. 103-111. ISSN 2315-6708

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Abstract

The impact of TQM on the fast-food SME sector in Nigeria is empirically underreported in the mainstream TQM and SME literature, and little is known as to which TQM principle is the strongest predictor of SME performance in the fast-food context. This twin problem triggered this investigation. Based on purposively selected managers' and supervisors' self-assessment of performance, the objective of the study is twofold: (1) To find out the nature of relatwnship between TQM and performance of SMEs in Southeast Nigeria fast-food sector, and (2) to find out those TQM principles that most critically propel successful performance of SMEs in the fast-food sector in Southeast Nigeria. To address this twin objective, the study was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. Primary data were collected via a structured five-point Likert scale questwnnaire from a sample size of forty six SME mqnagers and supervisors of twenty-three fast food SMEs in Nnewi, Onitsha, and Awka. Consistent with previous studies, Multiple Regression Analysis was employed to conduct the relevant analysis. The study revealed a very strong posit ive correlation between TQM and SMEs performance and that the f ive examined TQM principles are statistically significant as predictors of SME performance in the fast-food context. Importantly, the study also revealed that customer focus is strongest predictor of SME performance in the fast-food context. The research er made two pungent recommendations: (1) that managers of fast-food SMEs should continue to implement the tenets of TQM as this seem to be the precondition for competiveness and success, and (2) managers of fast-foods in Southeast Nigeria should place stronger emphasis on customer focus (both internal and external customers) and that internal customer focus must precede external customer focus, which can be developed into strategic core competence

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fast-food; SMEs; TQM; South-East ; Nigeria.
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Management Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2018 07:44
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2018 07:44
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/10062

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