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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 artigo apresenta resultados parciais de uma investigação em torno do papel da formação contínua, centrada na escola, no desenvolvimento profissional docente. A investigação decorreu numa escola privada nos arredores de Lisboa, em Portugal. O objetivo central foi o de analisar o papel da formação contínua de professores, centrada no contexto específico da escola que se constituiu como campo de estudo, no estabelecimento de uma comunidade de aprendizagem e promotora de desenvolvimento profissional docente. Em termos metodológicos recorreu-se a entrevistas semiestruturadas a 20 indivíduos que se consideraram informantes-chave, como professores, chefias de topo e intermédias, bem como formadores internos e externos. As principais conclusões da investigação apontam no sentido de um efetivo estabelecimento de uma comunidade de aprendizagem, que reflete na e sobre a prática, mas onde é relevado o tempo como principal constrangimento no âmbito da planificação e consequente implementação das ações de formação.

This research aims to analyze the relationship and the effects of the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on quality certification in services corporations and to analyze the impact of TQM and quality certification (ISO 9000) on the organizational performance. A model of structural equations was used to evaluate the relationship between the different dimensions. With the aim to measure the correlation between the continuous variables' and the dichotomous variable ISO 9000, Eta coefficient was used.The results showed that TQM practices in Portuguese service companies provide an improvement in their operational and market performance, however, TQM does not show an improvement in financial performance. Regarding ISO certification, the results indicate that certified companies do not show an improvement in their performance, whether financial, operational or market. Also, our research confirms that the implementation of TQM practices provides the conditions for quality certification.