This paper tries to study the link among entrepreneurial orientation (EO), total quality management (TQM) and organizational performance as well as the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation within this relation.
Data were gathered from a survey administered for 205 Tunisian industrial firms. The evaluation of the research model was performed using structural equations modeling within AMOS software.
The results indicate firstly that TQM positively and directly impacts EO; secondly, that EO has a direct and positive effect on organizational performance; thirdly, TQM has no direct and significant effect on organizational performance. This relationship becomes significant when it is mediated by EO.
The current study helps managers understand the mechanism of simultaneous adoption and development of TQM and EO. It also helps them understand how TQM practices support entrepreneurial orientation, and their role in ensuring organizational performance.
A particular feature of this study is the analysis of the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationship between TQM and organizational performance. This research also makes a unique contribution to the analysis of the direct effect of TQM on entrepreneurial orientation in industrial companies.
