How do you Manage a Flexible Firm? The Total Quality Model

Abstract

The introduction of modern principles of quality management among American and British companies in response to changing product markets and Japanese competition has significant implications for labour, management and the firm. Investigation of different applications of these principles shows that the `flexibilization' of management and company organization in order to increase entrepreneurial behaviour is a vital and hitherto neglected component of economic restructuring. Quality management also has a workforce dimension, but this is less important for the analysis of contemporary developments.