The alignment of integrated management systems and business objectives

192 Pages·2017·3.66 MB·English

Southern Cross University
ePublications@SCU
Theses
2015
The alignment of integrated management systems
and business objectives : a case study approach
applied to small and medium enterprises in
Singapore
John Zaw Min
Southern Cross University
Publication details
Min JZ 2015, 'The alignment of integrated management systems and business objectives : a case study approach applied to small and
medium enterprises in Singapore', DBA thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.
Copyright JZ Min 2015
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SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TOURISM
SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
AUSTRALIA

The Alignment of Integrated Management Systems and Business Objectives:
A Case Study Approach Applied to Small and Medium Enterprises in Singapore

John Zaw Min
19 June 2015

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Business Administration
Contents
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... I
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ II
List of Appendices .................................................................................................................... III
Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... IV
Statement of Originality ............................................................................................................ V
Publications Arising from This Study ...................................................................................... VI
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ VII
Abstract .................................................................................................................................. VIII
Chapter 1: Overview ................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background to the study .............................................................................................. 1
1.2 Summary of Literature Review .................................................................................... 2
1.3 Objective of the Study ................................................................................................. 5
1.3.1 Preliminary concept map ...................................................................................... 5
1.4 Research Problem ........................................................................................................ 6
1.5 Research Design .......................................................................................................... 7
1.5.1 Data Collection. .................................................................................................... 7
1.5.2 Data Analysis. ....................................................................................................... 8
1.6 Significance of this Study .......................................................................................... 10
1.7 Delimitations of Scope and Key Assumptions .......................................................... 11
1.8 Organisation of Thesis ............................................................................................... 13
Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................................... 17
2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 17
2.1 Integrated Management System ................................................................................. 17
2.1.1 International Standard Organisation. .................................................................. 17
2.1.2 ISO: a brief history. ............................................................................................ 18
2.1.3 Environmental management. .............................................................................. 20
2.1.4 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series........................................... 22
2.1.5 Integration of Management Systems. ................................................................. 24
2.2 Effectiveness of the alignment process in the contextualised environment .............. 27
2.2.1 Definition of Small Medium Enterprise (SME). ................................................ 28
2.2.2 Implementation of the management systems in SME context. .......................... 29
2.2.3 The key dimensions of alignment. ...................................................................... 32
2.3 Summary of the Review of Contextual Literature ..................................................... 37
2.4 The field of study and major contributions ................................................................ 38
2.4.1 Identification of research issues. ........................................................................ 38
2.4.2 Propositions which may need investigation. ...................................................... 44
2.5 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 50
Chapter 3: Methodology ........................................................................................................... 52
3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 52
3.1 Justification for using case study methodology ......................................................... 52
3.2 The adopted case study approach .............................................................................. 55
3.2.1 Research design. ................................................................................................. 56
3.2.2 Sample. ............................................................................................................... 57
3.2.3 Instruments and measures. .................................................................................. 60
3.3 Data Collection Method ............................................................................................. 66
3.4 Data Analysis Method ............................................................................................... 69
3.4.1 The within case analysis. .................................................................................... 72
3.4.2 The cross case analysis. ...................................................................................... 73
3.5 Quality of Study ......................................................................................................... 77
3.5.1 Triangulation ...................................................................................................... 79
3.6 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................... 80
3.7 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 80
Chapter 4: Findings and Analysis ............................................................................................. 83
4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 83
4.1 Findings from Case Organisations-Stage One (Elements of Alignment) .................. 83
4.1.01 Element of alignment-1 (Certainty of the content). ............................................ 84
4.1.02 Element of alignment-2 (Experience of the content).......................................... 85
4.1.03 Element of Alignment-3 (Magnification by the content). .................................. 86
4.1.04 Element of alignment-4 (Misconception of the content). ................................... 86
4.1.05 Element of alignment-5 (Comfort during the process). ...................................... 87
4.1.06 Element of alignment-6 (Cooperation during the process). ............................... 88
4.1.07 Element of alignment-7 (Environment of the process). ..................................... 89
4.1.08 Element of alignment-8 (Resources available during the process). ................... 90
4.1.09 Element of alignment-9 (Results oriented approach). ........................................ 92
4.1.10 Element of alignment-10 (Eradication). ............................................................. 93
4.1.11 Element of alignment-11 (Remedies). ................................................................ 94
4.1.12 Element of alignment-12 (Discipline). ............................................................... 95
4.1.13 Element of alignment-13 (Support). ................................................................... 96
4.1.14 Element of alignment-14 (Training). .................................................................. 97
4.2 Findings from Case Organisations-Stage Two (Emergent Themes) ....................... 101
4.2.1 Emergent theme - Content. ............................................................................... 104
4.2.2 Emergent theme - Process. ............................................................................... 105
4.2.3 Emergent theme - Strategy. .............................................................................. 106
4.2.4 Emergent theme - Structure. ............................................................................. 109
4.2.5 Summary of emerging themes. ......................................................................... 110
4.3 The Relationships amongst Emergent Themes ........................................................ 110
4.3.1 Relationship between the emergent themes process and content. .................... 111
4.3.2 Relationship between the emergent themes strategy and process. ................... 116
4.3.3 Relationship between the emergent themes structure and process. .................. 117
4.4 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 119
Chapter 5: Discussion ............................................................................................................. 121
5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 121
5.1 Emergent Models ..................................................................................................... 122
5.2 A Relation of Emergent Themes of Four Constituents ............................................ 124
5.2.01. Certainty. ....................................................................................................... 125
5.2.02. Experience. ................................................................................................... 126
5.2.03. Magnification. ............................................................................................... 126
5.2.04. Misconception. .............................................................................................. 127
5.2.05. Comfort. ........................................................................................................ 127
5.2.06. Cooperation. .................................................................................................. 127
5.2.07. Environment. ................................................................................................. 127
5.2.08. Resources. ..................................................................................................... 128
5.2.09. Results. .......................................................................................................... 128
5.2.10. Eradication. ................................................................................................... 128
5.2.11. Remedies. ...................................................................................................... 129
5.2.12. Discipline. ..................................................................................................... 128
5.2.13. Support. ......................................................................................................... 129
5.2.14. Training. ........................................................................................................ 129
5.3 Relationship of the Emergent Themes ..................................................................... 129
5.3.1 Relation pattern of the emergent themes. ......................................................... 131
5.4 Comparison between the Case Data and the Literature ........................................... 136
5.5 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 145
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations ....................................................................... 147
6.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 147
6.1 Limitations ............................................................................................................... 148
6.2 Implications for Practitioners ................................................................................... 149
6.3 Implications for Policy Makers ................................................................................ 153
6.4 Implications for Further Research ........................................................................... 154
6.5 Reflection on this Study ........................................................................................... 157
6.6 Summary of the Chapter and Conclusion ................................................................ 159

Reference List .............................................................................................................................. i
Appendices .................................................................................................................................. i
Appendix 1 (Organisation invitation letter) ............................................................................. i
Appendix 2 (The interview guiding principles) .................................................................... iii
Guiding principle 1 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 2 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 3 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 4 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 5 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 6 ............................................................................................................ iii
Guiding principle 7 ............................................................................................................ iii
List of Tables
List Page Number

The profile of participants
Table 3.1 …………………………………………………………………… 60

Relationship between the elements of alignment and the emergent themes
Table 4.1 ……………………………………………………………………102

Dimensions and measurements of alignment
Table 4.2 ……………………………………………………………………103
Table 4.4 ……………………………………………………………………112
Table 5.2…………………………………………………………………….130

Comparison amongst Cases
Table 4.3 ……………………………………………………………………111

Relationships amongst Emergent Themes
Table 5.1…………………………………………………………………….124

I
List of Figures

List Page Number

Organisation of thesis
Figure 1.1 ………………………………………………………….……….14

Elements of alignment model
Figure 5.1 ………………………………………………………….……….122
Figure 5.1 ………………………………………………………….……….125
Figure 5.1 ………………………………………………………….……….131

Dimensions of alignment model
Figure 5.2 ………………………………………………………………...…123
Figure 5.2 ………………………………………………………………...…125
Figure 6.1 ………………………………………………………………...…151

II