Employee involvement: a hierarchical conceptualisation of its effect on quality

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to study the effect of employee involvement (EI) practices on quality comprehensively.Design/methodology/approach – This paper views the EI domain as sets of related practices interacting within a hierarchy. Using survey data, the paper tests a model of higher order practices building on a foundation of lower order practices to affect quality.Findings – The results support a hierarchical conceptualisation of EI practices. Some practices are found to be more effective than others, yet even the less effective EI practices serve a supportive purpose.Research limitations/implications – The model was analyzed from a predictive perspective, using a relatively small sample. Rather than simply identifying some EI practices as more effective than others, it is important to view the practices as being interrelated.Practical implications – Cherry‐picking only the most effective EI practices may not work. Managers must first install a foundation of less effective practices.Ori...

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