Adjusting the Lens - Quality Management in V4 Countries Through Times of Crises

Abstract

Purpose: The idea of the study is to understand fluctuation in quality management depending on organizational context. The primary purpose of this article is to analyze changes in quality management in four countries grouped in V4 (The Visegrad Group) in the prism of macroeconomic crises, over the last five years. The following research question was formulated: What influences market saturation with a formal approach to quality management (ISO 9001 certificates), and when? Design/methodology/approach: The considerations are based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and an analysis of the long-term data of ISO survey – certifications. The data was compared among V4 countries and an attempt was made to relate the results to economy-wide indicators, especially in turbulent environments. Findings: The results show no clear and unidirectional relationships between the number of ISO 9001 certifications and macroeconomic data. This was identified for the V4 group as a whole and for individual countries, as well. Implementation of the QMS is an individual decision of each organization, depending on closely related microeconomic factors. Research limitations/implications: Research findings always represent a slice of a larger reality. In that research paper limitations concern: the period of analysis, literature review in English and supplemented locally in the native languages, focusing on the V4 area. Findings implicate quality management’s perceptions need to adjust the lens to understand macro numbers of certificates by the circumstances and adjust micro decisions in organizations in the QM area depending on the crisis phase on the market. Originality/value: The article analyses certification data in previously unpresented form. Results were compared between V4 countries in the prism of times of crisis with an indication of certificate saturation rates and an attempt to explain macroeconomic fluctuations. The research results are helpful for researchers exploring quality management issues, and all organizations that can relativize the importance of quality management.