Operations improvement initiatives and operational performance: A survey of companies that participate in the Company Of The Year Award (COYA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between operational improvement methods and operational performance. In this context, the study examined a classification of six improvement initiatives and 35 specific techniques in relation to eleven operational performance objectives. The study focused on companies that participate in the company of the year award (COYA). Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire and descriptive statistics was used for analysis. Results showed that. most firms were familiar with the methods, with quality based being rated the most familiar and widely' used improvement initiative. Others included Technology and Time-based methods. Quality, learning and growth, customer satisfaction and innovation were rated as common performance objectives sought in relation to improvement methods. Tests of independence revealed that improvement methods are related to performance objectives. The respondents stated the challenges and constraints in the utilization of the improvement methods to include among others; a rapidly changing environment, communication barriers and an absence of strategy. On the basis of the findings of the study, recommendations on exploring and exploiting other improvement methods such as Gemba Kaizen (process-based) and technologybased is likely to offer a good competitive stand in future. Lastly, this study recommends further research areas on, specific improvement method and specific performance objectives, applications of the methods in the service sector or public sector and an analysis of pre and post implementation effects of any of the improvement initiatives on a specific performance objective.