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Development of a holistic early warning system (EWS) for German food production SMEs

This research project, which is limited to German SMEs, deals with the development of a holistic early warning system (EWS) integrating both a quality management system (QMS) and controlling (CO). Most of the concepts designed to identify company risks/crises are focused either on quantitative (operative) or qualitative (strategic) factors. Several authors point out the need for a more holistic approach including both quantitative and qualitative factors. This research, therefore, sought to explore controlling and quality management tools for EWSs in the food production industry, which are appropriate for recognizing risk factors of company failure, outlined by interview and literature review. Concepts and relations were generated with the help of turnaround-, controlling-, and quality management-experts and then confirmed/refined and analyzed by considering how they can be implemented in practice through the application of case study research. This research makes a contribution in the following areas: identification of requirements for an EWS; the exploration of appropriate QM and CO tools for EWS; the proposal of a holistic approach. The EWS, developed during this work, enables companies in the food production industry to tailor the framework for the specific needs of the company. Such a comprehensive, systematic approach (CO + QM) is currently unknown, both in research and also practice. Therefore, the work represents a new, innovative and implementable practical model.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:745068
Date January 2017
CreatorsDell, Larissa
ContributorsTerry, Brian ; Sharma, Seema
PublisherUniversity of Gloucestershire
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://eprints.glos.ac.uk/5642/

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