Abstract

Aviva Bashan

Globalization processes are relatively new phenomena, and mature insights into the complexity of management systems operating in a global environment are still developing. Therefore, this study used a systemic perspective to generate an initial body of knowledge about the challenges faced by global quality systems after the corporate expansion processes that result in multinational companies. Data was collected from intensive field research concerning the development processes of 18 multinational companies three years and analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology. The analysis yielded the key variables that influence the work environment, constraints, interfaces, and goals of global quality management systems, as functional systems within a complex, multinational, multi-interface companies operating in a competitive, dynamic, and changing market. Central themes common to multiple variables were identified, and a model was proposed to study further the challenges faced by global quality systems. This article is unique in that it integrates strategic, operational, and marketing rationales into thinking about quality systems and introduces dynamism as a dimension in the developmental process of global quality systems.