The aim of this research is to examine the moderating effect of TQM practices on the relationship between organisational defensive routines and double-loop learning. The current literature supports the notion that organisational defensive routines thwart double-loop learning (Ritchie, 1999). Yet there is no empirical research at present which investigates the effect of organisational defensive routines on double-loop learning in organisations practising TQM. There is also no empirical study which compares the relationship between organisational defensive routines and double-loop learning in organisations practising TQM and those not practising TQM. / The significance of the study is addressed in terms of its theoretical and practical contributions. The study has empirically tested the concepts put forward by Argyris (1985, 1990b. 1993, 1994) and contributes towards the development of his theory. The Double-loop Learning Theory as propounded by Argyris (1985, 1990, 1993) states that organisational defensive routines hinder double-loop learning in organisations. Argyris (1994) further argues that the practice of TQM does not reduce the effect of organisational defensive routines on double-loop learning. On the other hand, the works of Terziovski, Howell, Sohal & Morrison (2000) and Morrison & Terziovski (2001) imply that TQM practices will improve the performance of an organisation through a reduction of organisational defensive routines. This gap in the TQM literature has provided the rationale for carrying out this study. / Quantitative method was adopted for this research. The method used in this research was classified as correlational research by Gay (1996). The independent variable of this research was organisational defensive routines. The dependent variable was double-loop learning. The moderating variable was TQM practices. / Mail questionnaires were sent to 1396 identifiable manufacturing companies in Penang based on the addresses given in seven directories of associations. Only one supervisor from each organisation was invited to be a respondent in order to achieve higher return rate. The return rate was 12.32% and the total number of respondents amounted to 172. / After testing the four groups of hypotheses, several findings are established. First, organisational defensive routines hinder double-loop learning in non-TQM firms only. / Second, the moderating effect of TQM practices on the relationship between organisational defensive routines and double-loop learning is effective only when the execution of the elements of TQM practices is high / Third, TQM practices could moderate the relationship between organisational defensive routines and double-loop learning because TQM practices and double-loop learning have high levels of positive correlation. / Fourth, it is tested that TQM practices are not affected by the duration of practising TQM. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 1999

Many academicians and practitioners have recognized that organizational learning is a viable paradigm for contemporary organizations aspiring to attain competitive advantage in an increasingly turbulent business environment. Despite tremendous interest in endeavoring to understand the nature of learning organizations, there is a dearth of empirical evidence to support the anecdotal claims that learning in organizations results in positive outcomes such as team performance, service quality, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Most studies either focus on the antecedents and obstacles to learning or speculate how learning produces positive outcomes. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to examine the interactions of individual, team and organizational learning and to examine how learning at the three levels contributed to competitive advantage. In the framework of this study competitive advantage was conceptualized to be made up of team performance, service quality, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Accordingly, a cross-sectional study was conducted at a 230-bed capacity Australian hospital. The study respondents were drawn from all fill time hospital workers - nurses, executives, managers, professions allied to health, administration and clerical workers. As the doctors are contracted, they were not surveyed. All respondents completed a complex questionnaire. In addition to demographic information, the instruments used in the questionnaire included the Individual Learning Scale (Arnes and Archer, 1988), Team Learning Survey (Edrnondson, 1996), Organizational Learning Survey (Goh and Richards, 1997), Team Performance Survey (Edmondson, 1996), SERVQUAL (Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry, 1991), job satisfaction section of the Job Diagnostic Survey (Hackman and Oldham, 1979, and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (Porter, Steers, Mowday, and Boulian, 1976). These instruments were deliberately chosen because of their previously recorded acceptable psychometric properties (i.e. validity and reliability) in similar assessments, and hence, they were considered appropriate for the purpose of this study. A comprehensive methodology was used to assess the hypotheses. Relevant literature pertaining to the variables examined in this study was reviewed. In light of the literature review, a number of hypotheses and a conceptual model were developed. A quantitative methodology was used to test the proposed hypotheses and qualitative information was sought to provide some explanation of the results. This pluralist approach is gaining recognition in contemporary research because of the complementary nature of qualitative to quantitative methodology (Edmondson, 1996; Shaffer and Harrison, 2001). In total 700 questionnaires were administered for completion during a period of two weeks. A total of 189 questionnaires were returned, generating an overall response rate of 27.0 percent. The lower-than-expected response rate was a concern, as biasness in results could occur (Churchill, 1991; Hunt, 1990), so a non-response bias assessment was conducted by comparing early and late respondents (Rulke, Zaheer, and Anderson, 2000; Wright, 1997). The results indicated no grave problem with non-response bias, and therefore, the data was deemed suitable for analyses. Several statistical procedures were employed to evaluate the data. For example, factor analyses and reliability analyses were used to assess the psychometric properties of the scales. The results of psychometric assessments indicated that the scales had good validities and reliabilities, and the data was robust. Then, path analysis was used to test the hypotheses, which were developed in Chapter Two. The results of path analysis indicated that individual learning was negatively related to team learning, two service quality facets, and two organizational learning facets. Also, the predictions that team learning would enhance organizational learning and team performance were fully supported. Furthermore, the relationships between organizational learning and three relevant outcomes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and service quality) received some support. Finally, it was found that three job satisfaction facets were related to organizational commitment. Implications for these findings are comprehensively discussed in the implications section of Chapter Five. A feature of this study is the use of informal focus groups to improve the understanding of statistical results. The Quality Coordinator of the hospital organized seven sessions and every employee was invited to attend. Each session lasted fifteen to twenty minutes. The Chief Executive Officer, who attended most the sessions, displayed tremendous interest and support for the study. There were two objectives for the informal discussions. Firstly, this strategy allowed a better interpretation of the results from the mindsets of some employees. During the sessions, attendees were asked to recall instances that support the findings. Secondly, the session allowed staff members to discuss any job-related issues with the Quality Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer. Indeed, as suggested by contemporary management researchers (Bond, Fu, and Pasa, 2001; de Ruyter, Moorman, and Lemrnink, 2001; Teagarden, Von Glinow, Bowen, Frayne, Nason, Huo, Milliman, Arias, Butler, Geringer, Kim, Scullion, Lowe, and Drost, 1995), this informal qualitative approach was complementary to the statistical method. The study represents an original attempt to empirically examine the individual, team and organizational learning constructs and their outcomes. Discussion of results is preceded by a review of the outcomes of individual learning, which include team learning, organizational learning, and service quality. Next, the outcomes of team learning, such as organizational learning, team performance and service quality, are discussed. Subsequently, the effects of organizational learning on job satisfaction, organizational commitment and service quality are discussed. The discussion is concluded with explanations for the reciprocal relationship between the affective variables of job satisfaction and organizational commitment as well as the effects of the two variables on service quality. Following the discussion of results, the limitations and strengths of the study are presented. Finally, suggestions for future research are provided. A number of theoretical and practical contributions have resulted from this study. These can be broadly summarized to include four features. The first contribution of this study is an advancement of the currently available knowledge about individual, team and organizational learning by empirically examining the linkages. A second contribution of the study is an assessment of the appropriateness of the Individual Learning Survey, Team Learning Survey, Organizational Learning Survey, and the SERVQUAL instrument in assessing learning capabilities and service quality in the context of an Australian hospital, with the potential of a wider application across the health care industry. Next, evidence supporting the organizational learning facets that have contributed to employee attitude and behavior, such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment, may help bolster arguments for initiatives to improve the quality of life of health care staff. Finally, identifying the organizational learning facets that have contributed to service quality has the potential to encourage hospital management to incorporate human resource policies into operational plans to improve service quality. Implications of the findings for managers and theory developments are discussed comprehensively in Chapter Five.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2002. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Business, Information Technology and Law. Bibliography: leaves 160-249.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2008. / Thesis Advisor(s): Nissen, Mark ; Kamel, Magdi. "December 2008." Description based on title screen as viewed on February 5, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-102). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-100).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-80). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [95]-106).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-196).

Univ., Diss.--Münster, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.