A framework for international quality management research: Development and validation of a measurement instrument

This paper reports the results of a study aimed at conceptualizing and developing valid measurements for key dimensions of quality management in the international context. The quality management framework is conceptualized in terms of 13 dimensions. Subsequently, operational indicators for the 13 dimensions are developed in terms of managerial perceptions. Data were collected from five countries: the US, India, China, Mexico and Taiwan. The sample was split into two random sets. Using structural equation modeling the constructs were tested and refined using the first set and were revalidated using the second set. The results of the study indicate that the operational measures developed here largely satisfy the criteria for unidimensionality, convergent, discriminant and predictive validity in all five countries. This study makes a contribution to the measurement stream of international quality management by providing a set of valid and reliable operational measures. These measures are expected to help researchers in theory testing as well as practitioners in diagnosing and improving their quality management systems across countries.