Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Patsy Kasen

Abstract

Managers of government organizations in Jamaica often have difficulty implementing the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 standard. Jamaica's Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce considered ISO 9001 certification as critical for international competitiveness as lacking the standard had the potential to become a barrier to trade. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that managers of a government organization in Jamaica used to implement ISO 9001 successfully. The conceptual framework was the total quality management concept encompassing Deming's plan-do-check-act cycle. Data collection entailed organizational document reviews and semistructured interviews of 4 managers in an ISO 9001 certified government organization in Jamaica. Data analysis involved interview transcription, keyword and phrase coding, emergent theme identification, and methodological triangulation of the data. Findings were that successful implementation strategies to promote understanding of the ISO 9001 standard included both management commitment and leadership and ongoing awareness, training, and education. Other strategies were customization of the quality management system (QMS) implementation, continuous assessment and update of the QMS, and staff involvement. Social change implications include the potential for government managers and quality practitioners in Jamaica to use the study results to develop or improve strategies for ISO 9001 certification of organizations. ISO 9001 certification might lead to increased organizational competitiveness and enhanced business survival, which may result in the provision of job opportunities for community members and growth in Jamaica's economy.

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