MOTIVATION AND BENEFITS OF ISO 9001:2015 IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE IN A MALAYSIAN LEGAL FIRM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v3i1.107Keywords:
ISO 9001, quality management system, legal firm, motivation of ISO 9001, benefits of ISO 9001Abstract
This research is an insider action qualitative case study research on a legal Firm X in Malaysia which has implemented, obtained certification and maintained the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system (QMS). Data was collected from interviews, document reviews and observations that were conducted from October until December 2020. It was found that there are eight internal motivations and five external motivations for ISO 9001:2015 implementation and maintenance. Internal motivations are that the ISO 9001 standard creates work processes, to have a systematic and organised workflow followed by the intention to improve productivity and quality of work in Firm X. Other motivational factors are to have an efficient operation, a faster delivery of work, to create and follow the standard template, staff empowerment, and to gain knowledge on ISO. On the other hand, the external motivation factors are for global recognition, to secure panelship, differentiating factors, to win client trust and for business benefits. The benefits obtained by Firm X includes"systematic working process", "standard procedure", "standard documentation" and "quality delivery" where ISO implementation procedures increase the firm’s efficiency, decrease non-conformities, the costs related to reworks and to sustain the relationship with the customer. Global recognition, securing panelship, differentiating factor, client trust and business benefits are the external benefits obtained from Firm X’s implementation and maintenance of ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.
References
Ab Wahid, R., Corner, J. (2009): Critical success factors and problems in ISO 9000 maintenance. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 26(9): 881-893.
Abraham, S.E., Spencer, M.S., Monk, E.L. (1998): Total quality management: applicability to law firms. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 15(5): 541-554.
Almeida, D. Pradhan. N., Jorge Muniz, J. (2018): Assessment of ISO 9001:2015 implementation factors based on AHP: Case study in Brazilian automotive sector". – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 35(7): 1343-1359.
Bravi, L., Marmura, F., Santos, G. (2019): The ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard: Companies' Drivers, Benefits and Barriers to Its Implementation. – Quality Innovation Prosperity 23(2): 64-82.
Buttle, F. (1997): ISO 9000: marketing motivations and benefits. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 14(9): 936-947.
Caro, L.M., García, J.A.M. (2009): Does ISO 9000 certification affect consumer perceptions of the service provider? – Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 19(2): 140-161.
Casadesus, M., Gimnenez, G. (2000): The benefits of the implementation of the ISO 9000 standard: empirical research in 288 Spanish companies. – The TQM Magazine 12(6): 432-441.
Coghlan, D. (2019): Doing Action Research in your own Organisation. – London: SAGE Publications 240p.
Department of Standards Malaysia (2021). Accredicated Certification (updated until Q4 2020). – Department of Standard Malaysia Official Portal. Available on:
https://www.jsm.gov.my/statistics
Dimara, E., Skuras, D., Tsekouras, K., Goutsos, S. (2004): Strategic orientation and financial performance of firms implementing ISO 9000. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 21(1): 72-89.
Elshaer, I.A., Augustyn, M.M. (2016): Direct effects of quality management on competitive advantage. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 33(9): 1286-1310.
Fonseca, L.M., Domingues, J.P., Baylina-Machado, P., Harder, D. (2019): ISO 9001:2015 adoption: A multi-country empirical research. – Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management 12(1): 27-50.
Garrett, G.R. (1992): What does Total Quality Manaement mean for legal organisations. – Journal of Association of Legal Administrators 5p.
Ghobadian, A., Speller, S., Jones, M., (1994): Service Quality: Concepts and Models. – International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management 11(9): 43-66.
Gosling, J., Ashton, D. (1994): Action learning and academic qualifications. – Management Learning 25(2): 263-274.
Hadidi, L.A., Assaf S., Aluwfi, K., Akrawi, H. (2017): The effect of ISO 9001 implementation on the customer satisfaction of the engineering design services. – International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation 35(2): 176-190.
Harte, H.G., Dale, B.G. (1995): Improving quality in professional service organizations: A review of the key issues. – Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 5(3): 34-44.
Heras, I., Dick, G.P.M., Casadesus, M., (2002): ISO 9001 Registration's Impact on sales and profitability a longitudinal analysis of performance before and after accreditation. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 19 (6): 774-791.
Heras-Saizarbitoria, I., Boiral, O. (2015): Symbolic adoption of ISO 9000 in small and medium-sized enterprises: the role of internal contingencies. – International Small Business Journal 33(3): 299-320.
Hrnciar, M., Madzik, P., Uram, M. (2018): Unfamiliar relatives in the service sector. – Benchmarking: An International Journal 25(1): 156-177.
Hussain, T., Eskildsen, J.K., Edgeman, R. (2020): The intellectual structure of research in ISO 9000 standard series (1987–2015): A Bibliometric analysis. – Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 31(11-12): 1195-1224.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (2021): ISO Survey of certifications to management system standards. – ISO Official Portal. Available on:
https://isotc.iso.org/livelink/livelink?func=llworkspace
Juanzon, J.B.P., Muhi, M.M. (2017): Significant factors to motivate small and medium enterprise (SME) construction firms in the Philippines to implement ISO9001: 2008. – Procedia Engineering 171: 354-361.
Kakouris, A., Sfakianaki, E. (2018): Motives for implementing ISO 9000: Does enterprise size matter? – International Journal of Productivity and Performance 68(2): 447-463.
Karim, A. (2015): ISO Certification and financial performance: A review. – The Journal of Global Business Management 11(2): 32-38.
Kok, L. (2019): Framework for Quality Management System Indicators for ISO 9001 Standards in Africa. – University of Johannesburg (South Africa) 344p.
Lee, P.K.C., To, W.M., Yu, B.T.W. (2009): The implementation and performance outcomes of ISO 9000 in service organizations. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 26(7): 646-662.
Leung, H.K.N., Chan, C.C., Lee, T.Y. (1999): Costs and benefits of ISO 9000 series: a practical study. – International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management 16(7): 675-690.
Malaysian Bar Official Portal (2021): General Statistics: Size of Law Practice (2011-2021). – Malaysian Bar Official Portal. Available on:
Mendes, L., Lourenco, L. (2014): Factors that hinder quality improvement programs' implementation in SME. – Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 21(4): 690-715.
Miles, M.B, Huberman, A.M., Saldana, J. (1994): Qualitative Data Analysis: A methods Sourcebook. – SAGE, Los Angeles 408p.
Muhammad, U.A., Raouf, A., Ahmad, N., Sparks, L. (2009): Total quality management in developing countries. – International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing 3(4): 363-380.
Nabavi, V., Azizi, M., Faezipour, M. (2014): Implementation of quality management system based on ISO9001: 2008 and its effects on customer satisfaction case study: Kitchen worktops factory. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 31(8): 921-937.
Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V.A., Berry, L.L. (1985): A Conceptual Model of Service Quality and Its Implications for Future Research. – Journal of Marketing 49(4): 41-50.
Porter, L.W., Lawler, E.E.I., Hackman, J.R. (1985): Behavior in Organizations. – McGraw-Hill, New York, 561p.
Prajogo, D.I. (2008): The sustainablity of ISO 9001 in legal service organisation. – The Service Industries Journal 28(5): 603-614.
Prashar, A. (2020): Quality management for high-contact professional service firms: a multiple-case evidence from Indian law firms. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 38(2): 413-436.
Priede, J. (2012): Implementation of quality management system ISO 9001 in the world and its strategic necessity. – Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 58: 1466-1475.
Psomas, E.L., Fotopoulos, C.V., Kafetzopoulos, D.P. (2010): Critical factors for effective implementation of ISO 9001 in SME service companies. – Managing Service Quality: An International Journal 20(5): 440-457.
Rebelo, M.F., Silva, R., Santos, G. (2017): The integration of standardized management systems: managing business risk. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 34(3): 395-405.
Ritsema, H.P., Eck-van, V.P., Broekhuis, M. (1991): Problems of Quality Management in the Professional Services. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 9(7): 23-25.
Robson, C. (2002) Real World Research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researcher. – Wiley-Blackwell 624p.
Sampaio, P., Saraiva, P., Rodrigues, A.G. (2009): ISO 9001 certification research: questions, answers and approaches. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 26(1): 38-58.
Santos, G., Costa, B., Leal, A. (2014): Motivation and benefits of implementation and certification according ISO 9001: The Portuguese experience. – International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology 6(5): 1-12.
Sawant, M.A. (2016): A Quality Management System Implementation Framework For Small-Sized Companies. – North Dakota State University 151p.
Sickinger, R., Schwanke N.A. (2016): The New ISO 9001:2015 Its opportunities and challenges. – Tampere University, Austria 119p.
Srivastav, A.K. (2010): Impact of ISO 9000 implementation on the Organisation. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 27(4): 438-450.
Sun, W., Pang, J. (2017): Service quality and global competitiveness: evidence from global service firms. – Journal of Service Theory and Practice 27(6): 1058-1080.
Sweis, R.J, Al-Huthaifi, N., Alwneh, A., Albalkhy, W., Suifan, T., Saa'da, R. (2020): ISO-9001 implementation and critical success factors of the Jordanian consulting engineering firms. – International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. Available on:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJPPM-11-2019-0535/full/html
Weckenmann, A., Akkasoglu, G., Werner, T. (2015): Quality management: History and trends. – The TQM Journal 27(3): 281-293.
Yahya, S., Goh, W.K. (2001): The implementation of an ISO 9000 quality system. – International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 18(9): 941-966.
Yin, R.K. (1981a): The Case Study Crisis: Some Answers. – Administrative Science Quarterly 26(1): 58-65.
Yin, R.K. (1981b): The Case Study as a Serious Research Strategy. – Knowledge Creation, Diffusion, Utilization 3(1): 97-114.
Yin, R.K. (2018): Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. – Los Angeles: SAGE Publication 352p.
Zeng, S., Tian, P., Tam, C. (2007): Overcoming barriers to sustainable implementation of the ISO 9001 system. – Managerial Auditing Journal 22(3): 244-254.
Zuber-Skerritt, O., Perry, C. (2002): Action research within organizations and university thesis writing. – The Learning Organization 9(4): 171-179.