Title: Firm size and its impact on continuous improvement

Authors: Keith Sloan; Terry Sloan

Addresses: School of Commerce and Management, Southern Cross University, P.O. Box 157, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. ' CInIS Research Centre, College of Business, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia

Abstract: Building on a volume of previous work on continuous improvement (CI) in the supply chain based on the continuous improvement in manufacturing activity (CIMA) model, this paper extends earlier work by examining the influences of firm size CI. Findings of this study provide support for earlier studies, which held that firm size generally has little influence on CI innovation activity. However, this study provides a finer grained analysis of the relationship between firm size and both the manner in which CI is undertaken and the benefits flowing from CI. This study reinforces previous evidence that management in organisations should give serious consideration to strategies which enhance the spread of CI activities throughout their organisations.

Keywords: continuous improvement; dispersion; firm size; organisational strategy; business performance; SCM; supply chain management; manufacturing activity; innovation activities; innovation management; technology management; innovation enhancement; innovation environments.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2011.042985

International Journal of Technology Management, 2011 Vol.56 No.2/3/4, pp.241 - 255

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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