Title: The mediating effect of business ethics in the relationship between total quality management and sustainable performance: perspective from 4- and 5-stars hotels

Authors: Kit-Yeng Sin; Choon Ling Sim; Yi Jin Lim; Damien Lee; Joanne Shaza Janang

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia ' School of Business Innovation and Technopreneurship, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000 Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia ' HK Gaosheng Education Consultants Sdn Bhd, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract: Sustainability and ethical issues in hotel industries have received great attention in recent years. This report is the outcome of a field research, which aimed to determine the relationship between TQM, business ethics and sustainable performance. The focus of this research is 4- and 5-stars hotels in Malaysia, in which 162 4- and 5-stars hotels are sampled. Quantitative approach is adopted in which structural equation modelling is employed to assess the relationship between TQM practices, business ethics and sustainable performance. The findings of this study indicate that TQM has positive impact on sustainable performance. Hence, it is concluded that the hoteliers in Malaysia are vigorously focusing on implementation of TQM practices in order to achieve sustainability. Besides, these research findings show that business ethics play as the role of mediator in the relationship of TQM and sustainable performance. The proposed framework serves as a guideline to verify the significance of TQM practices as well as business ethics in order to leverage the hotels' sustainable performance.

Keywords: total quality management; TQM; sustainable performance; business ethics; structural equation modelling; SEM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2021.118429

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2021 Vol.34 No.2, pp.176 - 204

Received: 03 Mar 2020
Accepted: 29 Apr 2020
Published online: 25 Oct 2021 *

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