TAILIEUCHUNG - Continuous improvement enablers: Defining a new construct

Continuous improvement is a means of promoting and working through business excellence. However, due to the complexity of the implementation process, many companies fail. Some authors consider that this is partly due to the lack of studies which develop and validate theoretical constructs in order to push theory in the CI field. | Continuous improvement enablers: Defining a new construct Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management JIEM, 2019 – 12(1): 51-69 – Online ISSN: 2013-0953 – Print ISSN: 2013-8423 Continuous Improvement Enablers: Defining a New Construct Lidia Sánchez-Ruiz , Beatriz Blanco , Raquel Gómez-López Universidad de Cantabria (Spain) sanchezrl@, blancob@, gomezlr@ Received: September 2018 Accepted: November 2018 Abstract: Purpose: Continuous improvement is a means of promoting and working through business excellence. However, due to the complexity of the implementation process, many companies fail. Some authors consider that this is partly due to the lack of studies which develop and validate theoretical constructs in order to push theory in the CI field. Therefore, this study aims at identifying and better understanding the factors that could act as enablers when implementing a CI initiative by designing and analyzing a new theoretical construct. Design/methodology/approach: After conducting a rigorous literature review and consulting a group of experts, Rasch Measurement Theory was used in order to validate the construct and rank the enablers. Findings: After validating the construct, a hierarchy of priority was obtained, being the following enablers the most important ones: establishing clear objectives, training, recognizing the achievements and learning from the CI process itself and motivation. Practical implications: Identifying the key enablers could help those companies that are about to start with the implementation process. Additionally obtaining a general classification could help managers to make good decisions and handle these enablers, fostering the most important ones. Originality/value: This paper provides additional evidence regarding the main enablers that an organization that decides to implement CI can foster. .

• Quản trị kinh doanh
• Continuous improvement enablers
• Defining a new construct
• The CI field
• The main enablers according to managers’ opinions
• The implementation process
• Hierarchy of priority
• Promoting export based industry
• Thai silver jewelry industry
• Analytical hierarchy process
• Priority weights of factors
• Sales and marketing driver