by Sitt Wing-leung William. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-65). / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.viii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ix / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION / The Development of Quality --- p.1 / Rise of International Quality Standard --- p.2 / ISO 9000 Quality Standard --- p.3 / Significance of ISO 9000 --- p.5 / Maintenance Management --- p.7 / Project Objective --- p.8 / Chapter II. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY / Case Study Approach --- p.10 / Settings and Timeframe --- p.10 / Data Collection --- p.11 / Literature Review --- p.12 / Chapter III. --- MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT / Company Profile --- p.13 / Maintenance Department --- p.14 / Repair and Maintenance --- p.16 / Problems Encountered --- p.18 / Improved Operating System --- p.21 / Benefits of the New System --- p.28 / Limitations of the New System --- p.29 / Chapter IV. --- APPLICATION OF ISO 9000 QUALITY SYSTEM / 14Elements Applied to Maintenance Department --- p.31 / Implementation Process --- p.41 / Difficulties Encountered --- p.45 / Hints to Successful Implementation --- p.47 / Benefits and Drawbacks --- p.50 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSION / Summary --- p.53 / Recommendations for Further Study --- p.55 / APPENDIX --- p.57 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.63

by Chun-pong Kwok. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [144]-[151]). / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS / ABSTRACT / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- ISO 9000 as an isomorphic process in Hong Kong industries --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Theoretical and Empirical Background --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Methods --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Internal Organization of each chapter --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- ISO 9000 As An Isomorphic Process In Hongkong industries / Chapter 2.1 --- Origin of ISO9000 --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- ISO's Popularity in Global and Local Markets --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- Some Characteristics of ISO9000 --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4 --- ISO 9000 as an Isomorphic Process in the Organizational Field --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Current Models Explaining the Popularity of ISO9000 / Chapter 2.51 --- ISO as a Trade Restriction --- p.18 / Chapter 2.52 --- The Market Driven Thesis --- p.20 / Chapter 2.53 --- ISO as a Product Promoted by Professional Groups --- p.23 / Chapter 2.54 --- ISO as a Result of Rational Choice --- p.25 / Chapter 2.6 --- Recapitulation --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- Institutional Theories of Organizations and the Sensemaking Perspective / Chapter 3.1 --- What is An Institution? --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Institutional Theory of Organizations: From Old to New --- p.32 / Chapter 3.21 --- The Old Institutional Theory of Organizations --- p.32 / Chapter 3.22 --- Contributions of The Old Institutional School --- p.35 / Chapter 3.23 --- The Neo-Institutionalism In Organizational Analysis --- p.36 / Chapter 3.23 --- a Isomorphic Processes and Mechanisms --- p.39 / Chapter 3.23 --- b An Alternative Model Defined by Richard Scott --- p.40 / Chapter 3.24 --- The Weaknesses of The Neo-Institutional Approach To Organizational Analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3 --- What is Sensemaking? --- p.47 / Chapter 3.31 --- Sensemaking In Organizations --- p.47 / Chapter 3.32 --- The Powerfulness of Sensemaking --- p.49 / Chapter 3.33a --- Sources of A Good Sense --- p.51 / Chapter 3.33b --- The Fragility of Sensemaking and Its Maintenance --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.54 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- A Closer Examination Of The Institutional Isomorphism / Chapter 4.1 --- Different Organizations are all in the same field --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2 --- How Cocecive/ Regulative Institution Works --- p.59 / Chapter 4.3 --- How Cognitive Institution Works --- p.61 / Chapter 4.4 --- How Normative Institution Works --- p.65 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Mutual Reinforcement of Institutional Pressures in the Environment --- p.69 / Chapter 4.6 --- Recapitulation --- p.71 / Chapter 5. --- Institutional Sources of Sensemaking and Its Strategies --- p.72 / Chapter 5.1 --- The Nature of Sensemaking --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2 --- Extraorganizational Sources of Sensemaking --- p.76 / Chapter 5.21 --- Market Signaling --- p.77 / Chapter 5.22 --- Reduction Of Responsibility ----Measure To Cope With Inevitable Risk --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3 --- Intraorganizational Sources of Sensemaking --- p.86 / Chapter 5.31 --- ISO 9000 as a Conflict Resolution Device --- p.87 / Chapter 5.3 la --- Misunderstandings --- p.87 / Chapter 5.31b --- Fault Aversion --- p.88 / Chapter 5.32 --- Labour Control and Deskilling Device --- p.89 / Chapter 5.4 --- Sensemaking Strategies --- p.92 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusion --- p.94 / Chapter 6. --- The Management Of Misfits And Dissonance --- p.96 / Chapter 6.1 --- The Dissonance and The Failure of Prophecy --- p.96 / Chapter 6.2 --- The Puzzle of Quality and Efficiency Improvement --- p.98 / Chapter 6.21 --- The Shortcomings of The System --- p.98 / Chapter 6.22 --- The Shortcomings of The Certified Companies --- p.100 / Chapter 6.23 --- The Shortcomings of The Certifying Bodies --- p.102 / Chapter 6.3 --- Strategies used to resolve the dissonance --- p.102 / Chapter 6.31 --- The Postponement Of Realizing Of The Promise --- p.103 / Chapter 6.32 --- Dissociation From The Unqualified Certifying Bodies --- p.103 / Chapter 6.33 --- Redefining The Goals Of Adopting ISO9000 --- p.104 / Chapter 6.4 --- The Transformation From Ambiguity To Flexibility --- p.105 / Chapter 6.5 --- Labour Resistance --- p.108 / Chapter 6.6 --- Conclusion --- p.111 / Chapter 7. --- Recapitulation: A Theory of Social Action In Insitutional Analysis --- p.113 / Chapter 7.1 --- "A Theory of Constraint: Institutions, Institutional Environment And Institutionalism In the Organizational Field" --- p.114 / Chapter 7.2 --- Theory of Action --- p.118 / Chapter 7.3 --- Implications of the Study --- p.120 / Chapter 7.31 --- The Eclipse of The Actor's Motivations Under Institutions --- p.120 / Chapter 7.32 --- The Extension of Conception of The Organizational Field --- p.122 / Chapter 7.33 --- Overinvestment in ISO 9000 --- p.122 / Chapter 7.4 --- A Possible Research Agenda --- p.124 / APPENDIX I --- p.125 / APPENDIX II --- p.141 / APPENDIX III --- p.143 / BIBLIOGRAPHY

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 99-101).

Várias mudanças ocorreram na área da qualidade e produtividade, principalmente entre o fim do século XX e o início do século XXI, e alguns dos principais motivos que ocasionaram tais alterações dizem respeito a: competitividade existente entre as organizações, não somente a níveis nacionais, mas também internacionais; estreitamento das barreiras comerciais, com a criação de grandes blocos econômicos; retração do crescimento econômico mundial, devido à exigência por parte dos consumidores que passaram a buscar produtos e serviços com maior qualidade e menor preço. Essa série de mudanças fez com que a qualidade de produtos e serviços passasse a ser essencial para a sobrevivência das empresas. A adoção de um Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000 é uma opção para as empresas que buscam um diferencial na área da qualidade e um reconhecimento por meio de certificação. Entretanto, somente a implantação de um sistema de gestão da qualidade não a garante, pois é preciso que exista de fato uma mobilização interna e o envolvimento de todos os membros da organização para com o sistema. Portanto, para garantir o envolvimento de todos os membros é necessário que haja: motivação interna para a qualidade; comprometimento dos indivíduos; e o conhecimento do sistema de gestão da qualidade aliado a possibilidade de um trabalho enriquecedor, em que o colaborador possa dar ideias e sugestões para sua melhoria. Pensando nestes aspectos, este estudo teve como objetivo fazer a análise das relações entre os construtos: comprometimento organizacional, motivação, aprendizagem e empowerment, no contexto do Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000. Por meio do Estudo de Caso de abordagem quantitativa, que se deu por meio da realização de uma survey com escala Likert de cinco pontos, verificou-se a percepção dos funcionários da empresa X com relação aos construtos e o Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000 implementado na empresa desde o ano de 2013. Como principais resultados pode-se verificar que os funcionários possuem uma boa percepção do SGQ implantado na empresa, existindo diferença significativa nas médias por faixa etária e por tempo de serviço. Por meio da análise de regressão verifica-se que a percepção do SGQ sofre influência do empowerment de recurso e da motivação pelos relacionamentos no trabalho, tendo correlação positiva com 10 dos 11 fatores encontrados no estudo. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-09-19T19:24:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Luana Possamai.pdf: 1419774 bytes, checksum: c9f5f51fecc7ccb459cd376ab56bfabd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-19T19:24:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Luana Possamai.pdf: 1419774 bytes, checksum: c9f5f51fecc7ccb459cd376ab56bfabd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-19 / Several changes have occurred in the area of quality and productivity, especially between the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, and some of the main reasons for such changes are related to: competitiveness among organizations at national and international level, the tighteninging of trade barriers, with the creation of large economic blocs; and retraction of world economic growth due to demand from consumers who came to seek products and services with higher quality and lower price. This series of changes made the quality of products and services become essential to the survival of businesses. The adoption of an ISO 9000 Quality Management System (QMS) is an option for companies seeking a differential in the area of quality and recognition through certification. However, the implementation of a quality management system is not a warranty of its success per se, since there must be indeed an internal mobilization and involvement of all organization members with the system. Therefore, to ensure the involvement of all members for this purpose, there must be: internal motivation for quality, the commitment of individuals, knowledge of quality management system combined with the possibility of enriching work, in which the employee can provide ideas and suggestions for improvement. Considering these aspects, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the constructs: organizational commitment, motivation, organizational learning and empowerment, in the context of ISO 9000 Quality Management System. The quantitative case study, which was carried out through a five-point Likert scale survey, aimed to investigate the perception of employees of company X in relation to constructs and the ISO 9000 Quality Management System in place in the company since the year of 2013. Main results include that the employees have a good perception of the QMS implanted in the company, showing significant difference between the averages by age and tenure. A multiple regression analysis shows that employee perception of QMS is influenced by resource empowerment and motivation due to relationships in the workplace, having a positive correlation with 10 of the 11 factors found in the study.

Thesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. / There is a South African Government initiative to use State-owned Enterprises (SOE's) to roll out a programme for the development and stimulation of local small businesses in South Africa. The state has requested SOE's to set targets on a voluntary basis to increase trade with small businesses, with the purpose of developing small enterprises to eventually enhance skills transfer, training and employment. However, when large customers such as Eskom Nuclear Generation require ISO certification as a prerequisite for a supplier to provide goods and/or services to them, most small businesses are unable to comply. The requirement of IS09000 compliance inhibits the ability of most small businesses to compete with their larger counterparts. Small businesses constitute as much as 90% of most world economies. They have many advantages to offer customers, such as a high level of flexibility, innovation and responsiveness to customer needs. These attributes can introduce healthy competition to the supply chain. Small businesses, by their very nature experience more risks, such as a higher vulnerability to volatile market forces and skills loss. In addition, they are generally less specialised.

Várias mudanças ocorreram na área da qualidade e produtividade, principalmente entre o fim do século XX e o início do século XXI, e alguns dos principais motivos que ocasionaram tais alterações dizem respeito a: competitividade existente entre as organizações, não somente a níveis nacionais, mas também internacionais; estreitamento das barreiras comerciais, com a criação de grandes blocos econômicos; retração do crescimento econômico mundial, devido à exigência por parte dos consumidores que passaram a buscar produtos e serviços com maior qualidade e menor preço. Essa série de mudanças fez com que a qualidade de produtos e serviços passasse a ser essencial para a sobrevivência das empresas. A adoção de um Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000 é uma opção para as empresas que buscam um diferencial na área da qualidade e um reconhecimento por meio de certificação. Entretanto, somente a implantação de um sistema de gestão da qualidade não a garante, pois é preciso que exista de fato uma mobilização interna e o envolvimento de todos os membros da organização para com o sistema. Portanto, para garantir o envolvimento de todos os membros é necessário que haja: motivação interna para a qualidade; comprometimento dos indivíduos; e o conhecimento do sistema de gestão da qualidade aliado a possibilidade de um trabalho enriquecedor, em que o colaborador possa dar ideias e sugestões para sua melhoria. Pensando nestes aspectos, este estudo teve como objetivo fazer a análise das relações entre os construtos: comprometimento organizacional, motivação, aprendizagem e empowerment, no contexto do Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000. Por meio do Estudo de Caso de abordagem quantitativa, que se deu por meio da realização de uma survey com escala Likert de cinco pontos, verificou-se a percepção dos funcionários da empresa X com relação aos construtos e o Sistema de Gestão da Qualidade ISO 9000 implementado na empresa desde o ano de 2013. Como principais resultados pode-se verificar que os funcionários possuem uma boa percepção do SGQ implantado na empresa, existindo diferença significativa nas médias por faixa etária e por tempo de serviço. Por meio da análise de regressão verifica-se que a percepção do SGQ sofre influência do empowerment de recurso e da motivação pelos relacionamentos no trabalho, tendo correlação positiva com 10 dos 11 fatores encontrados no estudo. / Several changes have occurred in the area of quality and productivity, especially between the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, and some of the main reasons for such changes are related to: competitiveness among organizations at national and international level, the tighteninging of trade barriers, with the creation of large economic blocs; and retraction of world economic growth due to demand from consumers who came to seek products and services with higher quality and lower price. This series of changes made the quality of products and services become essential to the survival of businesses. The adoption of an ISO 9000 Quality Management System (QMS) is an option for companies seeking a differential in the area of quality and recognition through certification. However, the implementation of a quality management system is not a warranty of its success per se, since there must be indeed an internal mobilization and involvement of all organization members with the system. Therefore, to ensure the involvement of all members for this purpose, there must be: internal motivation for quality, the commitment of individuals, knowledge of quality management system combined with the possibility of enriching work, in which the employee can provide ideas and suggestions for improvement. Considering these aspects, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the constructs: organizational commitment, motivation, organizational learning and empowerment, in the context of ISO 9000 Quality Management System. The quantitative case study, which was carried out through a five-point Likert scale survey, aimed to investigate the perception of employees of company X in relation to constructs and the ISO 9000 Quality Management System in place in the company since the year of 2013. Main results include that the employees have a good perception of the QMS implanted in the company, showing significant difference between the averages by age and tenure. A multiple regression analysis shows that employee perception of QMS is influenced by resource empowerment and motivation due to relationships in the workplace, having a positive correlation with 10 of the 11 factors found in the study.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the face of increasing competition, Business Schools increasingly have to evaluate the quality of the service that they offer to current and prospective students. The most significant factor affecting an organisation's performance is the quality of its products and services in relation to the products and services of competitors. Measurement of service quality is a function of customer satisfaction, which in tum is based on a perception of how the service conforms to prior expectations thereof. A widely accepted method of quality assurance used in industry is ISO 9000 certification. For academic institutions the de facto method of providing confidence in the quality of the education they offer is through academic accreditation. The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) is unclear - in the light of its academic accreditations - of the benefits to be derived from implementing ISO standardisation within the organisation. The iso 9000 series is a set of quality standards, of which ISO 900 I: 2000 is one, which is primarily concerned with the quality management process. It deals with what the organisation does to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer and applicable regulatory requirements, and to continually improve the organisations performance in this regard. It is important to note that compliance with ISO standards is not intended to guarantee the quality of a product or service, it is however intended to provide confidence in the processes which produced or delivered the product or service. In evaluating the applicability of ISO 9000 in the service industry, it is concluded that there is little difference from how its standards and guidelines apply in manufacturing to how they apply in service industries. The USB is found to have implemented an extensive quality management system in order to attain various academic accreditations, most notably EQUIS accreditation. Thus from an academic perspective there would be little to gain from USB implementing ISO 9001: 2000, even though the standard is perfectly suited for academic environments. Where advantages would most likely be realised is in the peripheral business and support functions of the USB. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die aangesig van toenemende mededinging moet bestuurskole gereeld die kwaliteit van diens wat hulle aan huidige en voomemende studente bied, evalueer. Die mees veelseggende faktor in 'n organisasie se prestasie is hoe die kwaliteit van sy produkte en dienste vergelyk met die van sy mededingers. Die meet van die kwaliteit diens wat 'n organisasie lewer is 'n funksie van die tevredestelling van kliente, wat op sy beurt weer gebaseer is op insig tot die wyse waarop die diens ooreenstem met die oorspronklike verwagtinge daarvan. ISO 9000 sertifikasie word algemeen aanvaar in industrie as 'n betroubare maatstaf waarteen kwalitieit gemeet word. Vir akademiese instellings is die de facto metode om vertroue te wek in die kwaliteit van die opleiding wat hulle aanbied, deur middel van akademiese akkreditasie. Vir die Universiteit van Stellenbosch Bestuurskool (USB) is dit in die lig van hulle akademiese akkreditasie onduidelik wat die voordele verbonde aan die implementering van ISO standaardisering binne die organisasie sou wees. Die reeks ISO 9000 is 'n stel kwaliteitstandaarde, waarvan ISO 900 I: 2000 een is, en is hoofsaaklik gemoeid met die proses van kwaliteitsbestuur. Dit bemoei hom met die stappe wat 'n organisasie neem om klientebevrediging te bevorder deur die bereiking van die vereistes van beide sy kliente en die toepasbare voorskrifte. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat 'n onderworpenheid aan ISO standaarde geensins die bedoeling het om die kwaliteit van 'n produk of diens te waarborg nie - die oogmerk is egter om vertroue te wek in die prosesse wat die produk of diens veroorsaak of gelewer het. Deur die toepasbaarheid van ISO 9000 in die diensbedryfte evalueer, is dit vasgestel dat daar inderdaad min verskil is tussen die wyse waarop hierdie standaarde en riglyne van toepassing is in die vervaardigingsektor en hoe dit toegepas word in diensbedrywe. Dit is vasgestel dat USB 'n verreikende kwaliteitsbestuursisteem in werking het om verskeie akademiese akkreditasies te bekom, veral die EQUIS akkreditasie. Die gevolgtrekking is dat daar vanuit 'n akademiese oogpunt min rede is vir USB om ISO 900 I: 2000 te implementeer, selfs al is hierdie standaard goed van toepassing op 'n akademiese omgewing. Waar dit tot sy beste voordeel toegepas kan word, is in die omliggende sake- en ondersteuningsfunksies van USB.

by Tung Man Kei. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-83). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURE --- p.vi / LIST OF APPENDIXES --- p.vii / PREFACE --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- ISO-9000 Standards --- p.4 / Recent Development of ISO 9000 Standards --- p.6 / Other Quality Standards and Awards --- p.8 / Influence of ISO 9000 --- p.11 / Implementation of ISO 9000 --- p.15 / Chapter III. --- CASE STUDY: PART (A) JEWELLERY INDUSTRY AND ABC JEWELLERY LIMITED --- p.18 / Jewellery Industry in Hong Kong --- p.18 / The ABC Jewellery Limited --- p.20 / Organizational Structure of ABC Jewellery Limited --- p.21 / Production Department --- p.22 / Stone Department --- p.24 / Human Resources Department --- p.24 / Quality and Technology Department --- p.25 / Management Information Department --- p.26 / Marketing Department --- p.26 / Export Department --- p.27 / Financial Situation of ABC Jewellery Limited --- p.28 / Chapter IV. --- CASE STUDY: PART (B) IMPLEMENTATION OF ISO-9002 CERTIFICATE OF A MANUFACTURING COMPANY - ABC JEWELLERY LIMITED --- p.30 / Quality Reform of ABC Jewellery Limited --- p.30 / The MANCOM - A Reform of Management Committee --- p.32 / The Implementation Plan of ISO-9000 of ABC Jewellery Limited --- p.34 / Step 1： Preliminary Goals Setting and Formulation of Action Plan --- p.35 / Step 2: Creation of Mission and Vision Statements --- p.37 / Step 3: Formation of Quality Team --- p.37 / Step 4: Education of Quality Concept --- p.38 / Step 5: Preparation of Quality Manual and Work Procedures - the Business Procedures --- p.40 / Step 6: Reengineering of Business System --- p.43 / Step 7： Registration for ISO-9002 --- p.44 / Problems faced by the Company --- p.45 / Dilemma --- p.53 / Chapter V. --- CASE STUDY: PART (C) LATEST SITUATION OF ABC JEWELLERY LIMITED --- p.54 / Quality and Technology Department --- p.54 / """Quality In Progress"" and Other Quality Improvement Projects in the Company" --- p.55 / Chapter VI. --- CONCLUSION OF THE CASE STUDY --- p.57 / TABLES AND FIGURE --- p.59 / APPENDIXES --- p.63 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.82

by Law Po-yee, Annie and Li Lai-fong. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Objective of Study --- p.1 / Scope of Study --- p.2 / Background --- p.2 / Development of ISO 9000 --- p.4 / Concept of ISO 9000 --- p.5 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.9 / The Experience of Singapore --- p.9 / The Experience of U.S. and Canada --- p.11 / The Experience of Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.17 / Secondary Data Source --- p.17 / Primary Data Source --- p.21 / Chapter IV. --- FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS --- p.24 / Findings from Questionnaires and Interviews with Respondents --- p.24 / Experience of a Consultant : HKPC --- p.31 / Experience of the Registrar : HKQAA --- p.33 / Limitations --- p.37 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.39 / APPENDIX --- p.46 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.51

Thesis (MTech (Quality)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / There is a South African Government initiative to use State-owned Enterprises (SOE’s) to roll out a programme for the development and stimulation of local small businesses in South Africa. The state has requested SOE’s to set targets on a voluntary basis to increase trade with small businesses, with the purpose of developing small enterprises to eventually enhance skills transfer, training and employment. However, when large customers such as Eskom Nuclear Generation require ISO certification as a prerequisite for a supplier to provide goods and/or services to them, most small businesses are unable to comply. The requirement of ISO9000 compliance inhibits the ability of most small businesses to compete with their larger counterparts. Small businesses constitute as much as 90% of most world economies. They have many advantages to offer customers, such as a high level of flexibility, innovation and responsiveness to customer needs. These attributes can introduce healthy competition to the supply chain. Small businesses, by their very nature experience more risks, such as a higher vulnerability to volatile market forces and skills loss. In addition, they are generally less specialised. They are under continuous competitive pressure, and are generally not able to provide assurance of a sustainable product over a longer period. Although there is an imperative to develop and use small suppliers, they introduce higher risk to the supply chain. The primary research objective of this dissertation is to develop a robust model to identify risks inherent to small businesses, and to propose measures to mitigate such risks. A classification of problems with small suppliers that have occurred at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station over a period of 3 years (from June 2005 to May 2008), will form the basis of the research methodology. The anticipated findings of the research include the following. _ Several common critical issues of failure will be identified in the internal processes of small suppliers, with variations between types of suppliers, which will indicate which elements within the context of ISO9000 can be applied to address shortcoming in the suppliers’ processes. _ A matrix will be compiled from this by which the customer can identify the type of supplier, the types of risks inherent to that supplier, and which elements of ISO9000 the customer should insist upon to be adopted into an elementary quality management system of that small supplier. This should be executed as part of a larger supplier development programme.