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The purpose of this paper is to measure the readiness of the Kuwaiti small and medium sized manufacturing industries to implement the lean system through an evaluation of their existing quality practices, and compare such readiness among different product sectors and ownership types. This study adopts the measurement framework developed by Al-Najem et al. (2013), which establishes six constructs related to lean quality practices, namely: process, planning and control, customer relations, suppliers relations, HR, and top management and leadership. Data were collected from a survey of 50 Kuwaiti small and medium sized manufacturing industries operating in different industrial sectors. One research question and two hypotheses were developed and tested using t-test and Levene's test, descriptive analysis, and one-way ANOVA. The results demonstrate that the Kuwaiti small and medium sized manufacturing industries are far from being ready to implement lean. In addition, the study found that product sector and ownership type have no significant impact on the lean readiness in the Kuwaiti small and medium sized manufacturing industries. This research provides insight into preparing Kuwaiti, and other small and medium sized manufacturing industries, to implement the lean system by creating an assessment of their existing lean practices and lean readiness. This research is among a limited number of studies that have addressed lean within the Arab region, and only the second to examine the level of lean readiness of the Kuwaiti small and medium sized manufacturing industries. It expands the literature on lean in developing countries, particularly in the Arab region, and can provide guidance to research within other countries in the region.

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Architecture, by its very nature is about creativity, not only in design but in all its forms, and therefore it is safe to assert that creativity and innovation are at the root of architectural design practices. This empirical research examines the factors that affect organizational creativity in architectural firms in Saudi Arabia in the context of Amabile's componential theory. The research sample consisted of 210 professionals from five architectural firms operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses. The research findings suggest that management practices, which permit autonomy, risk-taking, rewards for creativity and innovation, have the greatest impact on organizational creativity, briefly defined as the creation of a valuable new product. Furthermore, it can be surmised that other elements of Amabile's componential theory including lack of organizational impediments, sufficient resources, realistic workload pressure, freedom, challenging work, management encouragement, and work group support have a significant impact on organizational creativity. The study also indicated that organizational encouragement Contemporary Management Research 90 has no significant causal connection with organizational motivation and therefore organizational creativity. The results extend the knowledge and understanding of the factors that affect creativity in exclusively creative environments. In addition, the implications for managerial practices and executive decision-making are explored.

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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the quality performance of the Egyptian manufacturing industry based on Flynn's quality management practices framework.Design/methodology/approachA literature-based questionnaire was developed to collect the research data. The sample studied included 193 professionals from different manufacturing firms in Egypt. The research model utilized seven first-order constructs to measure infrastructure and core quality practices and the model was analyzed by structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results of the study showed that infrastructure practices had a positive effect on core quality practices, which in turn, significantly influenced quality performance. The findings confirmed that Egyptian manufacturing firms have a good foundation of quality management practices enabling them to improve quality performance.Practical implicationsThis study provides a foundation for Egyptian manufacturing firms to develop a practical plan for implementing total quality management (TQM). In addition, the results of this study will help managers and policy makers develop a thorough understanding of the current status of TQM initiatives, enablers and barriers in Egypt.Originality/valueThe study represents one of the few attempts to examine quality practices and quality performance in the manufacturing sector in Egypt. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to examine these parameters in this context in Egypt.

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