Title: Studies on quality canyon phenomenon in macro-quality improvement

Authors: Jian Wang; Chen Li

Addresses: School of Management, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, China ' School of Management, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Baoshan District, Shanghai, 200444, China

Abstract: The quality canyon phenomenon in enterprises discovers the complex relationships between quality level (QL) and return on quality investment (QROI) in quality improvement. However, the phenomenon has been few examined quantitatively. In addition, whether the phenomenon may exist in the macro-level quality improvement, such as national quality, is not clear. These questions are critical for the enterprises and countries, whose strategies are transferring from high speed to high quality. Referring to the Kano model, a quantitative model is built on the relationships between QL and QROI. To test the model in national quality improvement, 16 quality indicators are identified for the measurement scales of macro-quality based on the Global Competitiveness Report. Return on macro-quality is measured with the unit GDP per capita. A 'U-shaped' curve relationship is found between macro QL and macro QROI. Some suggestions are proposed for the countries on how to improve their competitiveness through quality improvement.

Keywords: quality economics; canyon phenomenon; macro-quality.

DOI: 10.1504/AJMSA.2022.126733

Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications, 2022 Vol.7 No.1, pp.59 - 81

Received: 12 Oct 2021
Accepted: 13 Feb 2022
Published online: 03 Nov 2022 *