The impact of hard and soft quality management and proactive behaviour in determining innovation performance

The extant literature has reported mixed results on the relationship between Quality Management (QM) practices and innovation performance. Most of the studies carried out to date have proposed a direct relationship between QM and innovation, while neglecting the potential variables that may influence this relationship. In order to advance in this line of research, this paper develops a model of relationships between QM, understood as a multidimensional construct (hard QM and soft QM), and innovation performance (product and process innovation), which examines the mediator role of employee proactive behaviour in these relationships. The proposed model is examined using empirical data from ISO 9001 certified firms in high technology manufacturing and service sectors. The findings from structural equation modelling show the direct influence of the hard QM dimension on product and process innovation, while the effects of the soft QM dimension are channelled via proactive behaviour. The conclusions of the present study highlight the facilitating role of QM practices and proactivity for innovation