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Cycles of continuous improvement: Realizing competitive advantages through quality

Taina I. Savolainen (University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland)

International Journal of Operations & Production Management

ISSN: 0144-3577

Article publication date: 1 November 1999

3080

Abstract

This paper aims at increasing the understanding of the processes and dynamics of CI implementation. The paper presents findings from a longitudinal case study of how the organization is renewed by the embedding of quality‐related managerial ideology. It approaches CI from the perspective of organizational renewal, and looks at implementation as a managerial ideological change process. The paper draws on multi disciplinary concepts. The concept of ideology from political science is applied. Ideology is viewed as a force of organizational renewal, in other words, as a means that exerts influence on managerial thinking and practices. The ideological perspective provides new conceptual ideas and practical insights into CI implementation. The case study shows that CI implementation is cyclical and reveals company‐specific cycles. These cycles imply a challenge to management: the progress in developing CI capabilities is embedded in a rooted managerial ideology through which inimitable competitive advantages can be realized.

Keywords

Citation

Savolainen, T.I. (1999), "Cycles of continuous improvement: Realizing competitive advantages through quality", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 19 No. 11, pp. 1203-1222. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443579910291096

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited

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