Title: Developing a creative–inventive framework for strategic management and sustainable business excellence

Authors: S.K. Breja, D.K. Banwet, K.C. Iyer

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India; National Council for Cement and Building Materials, Ballabgarh, Haryana, India. ' Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India. ' Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India

Abstract: Voluntary recall of vehicles, an established practice in automobile business, is viewed as indication of manufacturer|s seriousness in maintaining highest levels of quality. Adopting creative (creative problem solving) and inventive (theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ)) approach to look into the issue of recall (viewed as forced and not voluntary) of 8.5 million vehicles by Toyota Motor Corporation in 2009–2010, this paper attempts to develop fresh insight into the issue. A hybrid Flexi-TRIZ research and strategy development and implementation methodology is evolved, framework for strategic management and sustainable excellence – along with strategy implementation tool – created, and incorporation of |flexibility|, |inventiveness| and |purposefulness| – as new evaluation angles in Deming Application Prize examination – suggested. The study contributes to further development of total quality management philosophy.

Keywords: TQM; total quality management; business excellence; flexibility; creative problem solving; TRIZ; service theories; inventive problem solving; strategic focus; sustainability; sustainable development; transformation; advanced manufacturing technology; Toyota Production System; strategic management; vehicle recall; automobile industry; automotive recall; voluntary recall; motor vehicles; cars; quality levels; forced recall; Toyota Motor Corporation; Japan; sustainable excellence; inventiveness; purposefulness; evaluation angles; Deming Application Prize; productivity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2011.041095

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2011 Vol.8 No.1, pp.1 - 32

Published online: 07 Jul 2011 *

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