Linking Information Technology and Total Quality Management to Improve Firm Performance - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal Name Tutor Unit Code Date Table of Contents Introduction to Business Research Topic 2 A Brief Literature Review 3 Objectives of the Study 7 Research Questions 7 Research Methodology and Technique 7 Project Plan 8 Research Process 8 Data Collection and Analysis 9 Expected Research Outcomes 9 References 10 ETHICS CHECKLIST FOR STUDENT RESEARCHERS 11 Introduction to Business Research Topic Present day companies are endlessly seeking to improve in trade performance by employing different techniques for getting better quality, cutting costs and improving on productivity. They largely depend on information technology (IT) to leverage on different methods. Information Technology’s value for companies is greater than ever and its influence on international trade is being extensively felt. Time and again, it has been pointed out that IT is quickly turning out to be the central feature in perking up productivity and trimming down costs notwithstanding contradictory arguments from existing studies (Mjema et al. 2005). Even if some studies point out that IT had not had a considerable result on productivity or competitive advantage, there is empirical backing of a positive correlation stuck between programmable automation and productivity (Ang et al. 2000). IT has progressed from a conventional secretarial back-office support course to a more tactical fundamental character in organizations. There is small hesitation that IT applications have an effect on every one section and function of a company, for that reason, it is stated that IT as well has got to impinge on Total Quality Management (TQM). This paper presents a review of the manner in which TQM is influenced by IT. A Brief Literature Review The ever-increasing international business competitiveness has mandated companies to build up approaches to turn into low cost producers and to make different their goods and services from their trading rivals. Demining while in Japan, developed the concept of Total Quality which turned out to be a strong instrument of competitiveness. According to Magutu (2010), TQM progressed from a lot of dissimilar management practices and upgrading processes. TQM essentially entails the administration and control of quality all over a whole organization. TQM is a management move toward getting better organizational performance that covers a multiplicity of themes both procedural and behavioural. Different researches and authors have identified various dimensions of TQM but the key dimensions take account of: top management support, personnel management, employee involvement, customer rapport, supplier rapport, teamwork, product design process, quality assurance as well as process flow management. TQM generally lays emphasis on customer focus and satisfaction. Information Technology can be described as whichever type of computer-based information classification that gives support to processing, compilation, and transmission of text, audio, along with pictographic information. IT takes in two expansive areas: (1) Obtaining, setting up and organizing technology-based systems in business, government plus other organizations; and (2) Devising, developing and executing technology-based systems. IT connects the opening linking the actual development of essential computer apparatus and the application of those tools (Ang et al. 2000). The assessment of Information Technology’s ability to support Total Quality Management originates from the resources-based view of the firm. According to the resources-based view, for an organization to have a competitive advantage, it ought to acquire/build up wherewithal and capabilities that throw in positive performance, not enjoyed by all competing firms, and are not easy to emulate or copy. Rogers et al. (1996) conducted an empirical study on the link connecting the deployment of IT and firm performance in the warehouse industry. They found out that IT is important for quality performance. In 2000, Ang et al. designed a tool to gauge the effect of IT on Total Quality Management, with the intention of identifying the way in which Information Technology wires Total Quality Management. These measures were tested and proved to be practically dependable and applicable. Mjema et al. (2005) brought these measures to play when analysing several Total Quality Management dimensions in a processing industry in Tanzania. They too found out that the deployment of Information Technology on Total Quality Management contributed to a great extent to the improvement of quality consciousness in the enhancement of product quality as well as in the lessening of quality costs. Brah & Lim (2006) found that Total Quality Management along with Information Technology engages in key and complementing tasks in enhancing performance. Their study revealed that high technology firms perform considerably superior than low technology firms. Also, Information Technology engages a key function in the Total Quality Management scheme through planning, workforce, and expertise areas. Mjema et al. (2005) state that Information Technology is more and more being engaged in assessing, understanding, and developing an organization’s level of long-standing quality. Undoubtedly, Information Technology is able to assist in making easy the use of statistical process running, experimental designs, failure mode plus effects investigation, and quality function operation along with self-evaluation alongside a model for business excellence. Information Technology is capable of facilitating the development of synchronized collection of data regarding customer contentment, internal process controls, decisive business systems, plus other measurement systems required to sustain Total Quality Management. Konstadt (1990) declares that refined communications and computational equipment and data storage systems are central to achieving Total Quality Management. Moreover, he states that Information Technology can smooth the progress of uninterrupted perfection, even under the traditional fundamental processes and management employee involvement. On the other hand, it is alleged that Total Quality Management may well enhance the introduction of Information Technology. Ayer (1993) argues that applying the principles and practices of Total Quality Management to the appliance of Information Technology guarantees a slowdown of uneconomical outlay in technology. According to Ang et al. (2000), companies that apply Total Quality Management make out a superior bang of Information Technology on their Total Quality Management dimensions. In view of that, Information Technology supports Total Quality Management. Additionally, Information Technology along with Total Quality Management execution levels are absolutely interconnected, implying that there are parallel attributes that push companies to put into practice Information Technology and Total Quality Management. For instance, this could be attributed to the quality-oriented human resources fundamentals (labor force management and worker attitudes and behavior) for the reason that: (1) Today’s dealing environment necessitates managers to employ highly developed technologies and management systems; and (2) More competent employees have the basic skills to apply Information Technology and to capitalize on Total Quality Management. Objectives of the Study i. To determine link between Information Technology and Total Quality Management. ii. To find out the effect of information technology on product quality as well as in the lessening of quality costs. iii. To find out the effect of Information Technology on firm performance. Research Questions i. How does Information Technology connect to Total Quality Management? ii. Does the use of information technology enhance product quality? iii. How does Information Technology affect firm performance? Research Methodology and Technique A descriptive research design will be used in this research study due to its specific nature and the ability to support a general understanding and interpretation of the problem under study. It is well designed to present a clear picture of the problem and certify minimum bias in collection of the data. Besides, it is intended to reduce the errors in data analysis and interpretation. Project Plan Figure 1: Gantt chart for Milestone Activities Research Process The target population for the study is the group of items or individuals from whom the samples are collected. The target population for this research study entails the organisation systems. There are no certain rules that guide the process of acquiring an adequate sample. There are quite a number of sampling techniques broadly classified into two categories; probabilistic and non-probabilistic. In this research study stratified sampling, which is a form of probabilistic sampling, is adopted given that the group was heterogeneous necessitating each one member of the target population to have an equal chance of contributing to the research study (Murray, 2003). Data Collection and Analysis Data for the study will be collected using questionnaires. The aim is to collect primary data regarding the problem under study. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and was represented in form of tables, charts, and graphs. This is to give a clear picture of the phenomenon under study. Expected Research Outcomes This research study seeks to investigate the link between information technology and total quality management. The main factors under study include the connection between information technology and total quality management, how information technology enhances product quality and the effect of information technology on firm performance. References Ang, C. L. Davies, M. and Finlay, P. N. 2000. Measures to assess the impact of information technology on quality management. International Journal of Quality &Reliability Management, 17: 42 – 66. Ayers, J. B. 1993. Total quality management and information technology: partners for profit. Information Strategy, The Executive Journal, 9: 6-31. Brah, S.A. and Lim, H. Y. 2006. The effects of technology and TQM on the performance of logistics companies. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 39: 192 – 209. Konstadt, P. 1990. The unending quest for quality. CIO, 3(11): 83-85. Magutu, 2010. Management Through Effective Information Quality Management (IQM) in banking services. AIBUMA, 1: 96-111. Mjema, E. A. M., Victor M. A. M. and Mwinuka, M. S. M. 2005. Analysis of roles of IT on quality management. The TQM Magazine, 17: 364-75. Rogers, D. S., Daughtery, P. J. and Ellinger, A. E. 1996. The relationship between information technology and warehousing performance. Logistics and Transportation Review, 32: 404-421. ETHICS CHECKLIST FOR STUDENT RESEARCHERS This checklist is designed to alert you to your ethical obligations when you conduct research involving human subjects. 1 These questions must be answered when a research project is proposed and before a research project is implemented. Attach the completed checklist to your final research proposal in week 12. Student Name and ID: _______________________________________ Title of the Project: ___________________________________________________________________ Please circle your answers: 1) Will the human subjects be informed of the nature of their involvement in the collection of data and of features of the research that reasonably might be expected to influence willingness to participate? Yes No 2) Will the human subjects be told that they can discontinue their participation at any time? Yes No 3) Will the human subjects in your study be aware that they are the targets of research? Yes No 4) If the subjects are underage, will their guardians be asked to sign the consent form? Yes No N/A 5) Is the confidentiality of the human subject’s identity positively ensured? Yes No 6) In cases where there is a possibility that the human subject's identity can be deduced by someone other than the researcher, is the subject's right to withdraw his/her data respected? Yes No 7) Will the researcher fulfil all the promises made to the human subjects including providing the summary of the findings upon request? Yes No 8) Will all necessary measures be taken to protect the physical safety of the human subjects from dangers such as faulty electrical equipment, poor grounding, lack of oxygen, falls, traffic & industrial accidents, possibility of hearing or vision loss etc.? Yes No 9) Will the human subject be debriefed (told the true nature of the study) after the data has been collected? Yes No 10) In cases in which the human subject is dissatisfied or a complaint about the researcher or procedure, will the researcher explain to the human subject that he or she may express this complaint to the Subject Coordinator? Yes No 11) Does the study involve concealment from and/or deception of the human subject? Yes No 12) Will deception be used in order to obtain agreement to participate? Yes No 13) Will the study involve human subjects who are legally or otherwise not in a position to give their valid consent to participate such as children, prison inmates, and mental patients? Yes No 14) Will information on your human subjects be obtained from third parties? Yes No 15) Will any coercion be exerted upon subjects to participate? Yes No 16) Will the study involve physical stress to the human subjects such as might result from heat, noise, electric shock, pain, sleep loss, deprivation of food and drink, drugs, alcohol? Yes No 17) Will the study cause any mental discomfort to the human subjects such as fear, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, shame, guilt, embarrassment etc.? Yes No 18) Could publication of the research results possibly interfere with strict confidentiality? Yes No 19) Could publication of the research results possibly harm the human subject - either directly or through identification with his/her membership group? Yes No 20) Are there other aspects of the study that may interfere with the protection of the well-being of the human subjects? Yes No If you have selected NO for any of the questions 1 to 10 and/or you have selected YES for any of the questions 11 o 20, please provide comments to clarify your choice (use additional pages if necessary). Signature of the Student Researcher: ________________________________________________________ APPROVED: _______________________________________ Date: ___________________________ Signature of Subject Coordinator Read More