Title: The mediating and moderating effect of total quality management practices on the association between strategic planning and competitive advantage: the case of railway sector

Authors: Tryson Yangailo

Addresses: The University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract: Empirical studies that have investigated the association between strategic planning and competitive advantage have presented mixed results with some studies indicating that strategic planning is an approach for achieving competitive edge over rivals, while other studies have failed to find the link between the two. This study endeavoured to settle and understand the relationship between strategic-planning and competitive-advantage by including some practices of total quality management on the very relationship using 192 sample-data collected using questionnaire from management employees of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority. The study contributes to literature by determining mediation effect of quality-results and moderating effect of education and training on strategic-planning and competitive-advantage. Model-fit, validity and reliability were verified using regression-analysis, principal-component-analysis, and factor-analysis using Jamovi. The results present significant-positive association between strategic-planning and competitive-advantage. Results indicate that quality results partially mediate between strategic-planning and competitive-advantage, and that education and training has positive significant influence on the association.

Keywords: strategic planning; quality results; education; training; mediation; moderation; competitive advantage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2023.135882

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2023 Vol.40 No.4, pp.491 - 511

Received: 20 Jan 2022
Accepted: 22 Jan 2022
Published online: 09 Jan 2024 *

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