The contribution of the quality certification process to the improvement of human resources management practices

Abstract

The current highly competitive environment requires companies to attach crucial importance to Quality and Human Resources with a view to improve their performance. Several scholars and managers have affirmed that synergy and consistency between human resources management (HRM) practices are essential to the success of Quality Management System (QMS). However, there is relatively little empirical evidence to support this predication.
In this paper we will attempt to clarify the impact of ISO 9001 (QMS) on (HRM) practices. To achieve this objective, we have conducted an exploratory study followed by a qualitative study in 12 Moroccan companies certified ISO 9001.
The results of the thematic analysis of the interviews carried out on the observed sites, showed that the ISO 9001 standard influences positively the (HRM) practices such as: recruitment, training, and more significantly communication and compensation. The findings also highlighted that effective (HRM) policies are essential for ISO 9001 certification programs to deliver their benefits. The paper then addresses some limitations of that research and provides suggestions for future research.