Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between innovation and total quality management (TQM), and also to identify the effects of innovation on organizational performance. This research proposes a conceptual model that intends to study several research hypotheses. Design/methodology/approach The data were obtained through an online questionnaire, sent to small- and medium-sized Portuguese companies, having being conducted the study based on responses received from 287 valid questionnaires, and using a multivariate statistical analysis for statistical development. Findings The findings indicate that companies that adopt strategies of process innovation get improvements in their performance, both operationally and financially, while product innovation only provides improvements in the financial performance of organizations. It was also found that TQM practices encourage the definition of innovation strategies of products and processes. On the other hand, it was found that only companies that adopt innovation strategies of their processes promote the adoption of TQM practices, and there is a statistically significant relationship between product innovation and the implementation of TQM practices. Originality/value This research analyzed the dimensions studied in different aspects. It considered product innovation and process innovation, and with respect to performance, this dimension was analyzed through two different perspectives, namely, financial performance and operational performance. This research also provides a particular contribution to the literature with the analysis of the interdependencies between innovation and TQM in small- and medium-sized Portuguese companies.

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This research study aims to study and identify which dimensions of TQM have influence on and support innovation strategies within the Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in the context of products or services’ innovation and process innovation, as well as to analyze the extent to which this relationship occurs. To examine the linkage between TQM dimensions and innovation strategies, concerning innovation products and innovation processes, a multiple linear regression analysis was chosen and an eight-predictor multiple linear regression model was proposed. The data was collected through a questionnaire sent by email. This research study allows to conclude that several dimensions of TQM, such as benchmarking, quality/conception and product design, and continuous improvement, have a significant and positive association with product innovation. Although the data analysis/measurement of the results dimension has a significant association with product innovation, this association is negative. Conversely, several TQM dimensions, such as leadership/management’s commitment, benchmarking, involvement/empowerment of employees, and continuous improvement, revealed a positive and significant association with process innovation. Our research is of crucial importance for the knowledge of Portuguese SMEs and the fundamental factors that companies must address to both improve their efficiency and be more competitive, thereby increasing profitability and ensuring financial sustainability in the medium and long term.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar a divulgação do risco efetuada por parte das sociedades não financeiras Portuguesas cotadas na Euronext de Lisboa ao longo dos anos de 2011 e 2012. Foram analisadas as características da informação divulgada em matérias ligadas ao risco tendo em conta o âmbito temporal, o caráter quantitativo ou qualitativo da informação, a natureza e a classificação do risco divulgado. Os dados para este estudo foram recolhidos a partir da análise de conteúdo ao anexo dos relatórios e contas (contas consolidadas) das entidades pertencentes à população durante o período de 2011 e 2012, resultando numa população de 36 entidades. Os referidos dados foram posteriormente submetidos a técnicas de análise univariada e bivariada baseada em testes não paramétricos, nomeadamente o teste de Wilcoxon. Os resultados demonstram que predomina a divulgação de informação financeira de forma qualitativa, referente ao passado e classificada como “boas notícias”. Pretende-se que os resultados desta investigação possam contribuir para a compreensão do tema desenvolvido, como é o caso dos elementos que se encontram na base da divulgação de informação de matérias ligadas ao risco.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to analyze a questionnaire answered by a sample of ISO 9000 certified companies and a control sample of companies which have not been certified, using a multivariate predictive model. With this approach, this paper assess which quality practices are associated to the likelihood of the firm being certified. Design/methodology/approach – This paper implemented non-parametric decision trees, in order to see which variables influence more the fact that the company be certified or not, i.e. the motivations that lead companies to make sure. Findings – The results show that only four questionnaire items are sufficient to predict if a firm is certified or not. It is shown that companies in which the respondent manifests greater concern with respect to customers relations; motivations of the employees and strategic planning have higher likelihood of being certified. Research limitations/implications – The reader should note that this study is based on data from a single country and, of course, these results capture many idiosyncrasies if its economic and corporate environment. It would be of interest to understand if this type of analysis reveals some regularities across different countries. Practical implications – Companies should look for a set of practices congruent with total quality management and ISO 9000 certified. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on the internal motivation of companies to achieve certification under the ISO 9000 standard, by performing a comparative analysis of questionnaires answered by a sample of certified companies and a control sample of companies which have not been certified. In particular, this paper assess how the manager's perception on the intensity in which quality practices are deployed in their firms is associated to the likelihood of the firm being certified.