The relationship between quality management and health - exploring the underlying dimensions

摘要

The first purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between workplace health and quality management, particularly the values 'leadership commitment' and 'participation of everybody' whose importance previous research has pointed to. The second purpose of the study was to examine the constituents and mechanics of the relationships between health and those values. A case study was carried out in a Swedish manufacturing company using data triangulation in the form of in-depth interviews and focus-group interviews on three levels.rnThe findings show that the perceptions of the quality management values were significantly correlated with the employees' perception of their health. This finding substantiates earlier studies indicating a relationship between quality and health. Important dimensions of 'leadership commitment' and 'participation of everybody', regarding health, were identified and described in models. The paper provides additional understanding of the connection between quality management and health, particularly regarding the role of leadership.