Quality Management in Smes : Diffusion of Innovations in Supply Chains

The inherent resource constraints in SMEs make their quality management highly challenging. SMEs in developing economies face even tougher hurdles while managing their quality. With the development of the concept of Extended Enterprise, SMEs can capitalize on the institutional strength of their larger supply chain partners building upon their strengths in quality management. This book demystifies the supply chain networks in high context developing economies, using the strengths of these networks to accelerate the positive diffusion of quality management practices from large buyers to small suppliers. This work also helps in developing an understanding of business cultures in developing economies along-with examining the current health of quality management and supplier development activities through empirical research. Based on the above, the book investigates the determinants of quality diffusion in supply chains.