Quality Management as a Strategic Capability in Certification-Based Agricultural Projects: Evidence from Smallholder Coffee Systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t7085Abstract
Despite the growing institutionalization of quality management within certification-based agricultural systems, its strategic impact on project implementation performance in smallholder settings remains insufficiently examined. This study investigates quality management as a strategic organizational capability and its effect on the implementation performance of certification-based coffee projects in Kiambu County, Kenya. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study adopted a positivist, cross-sectional research design. Data were collected from stakeholders engaged in certification-based coffee projects and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The findings revealed a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between quality management and project implementation performance (R = 0.704, p < 0.001), with quality management accounting for approximately 49.5% of the variance in implementation outcomes. Quality mechanisms including process efficiency, adherence to industry standards, and buyer satisfaction systems function as performance-enhancing strategic assets rather than mere compliance mandates. These results contribute to the project management and agricultural governance literature by empirically establishing quality management as a strategic capability in smallholder certification systems. The study recommends greater institutionalization of quality governance structures among certification bodies and cooperatives to enhance implementation reliability and sector competitiveness.
Keywords: Quality Management; Project Implementation Performance; Resource-Based View; Certification Systems; Smallholder Agriculture; Coffee Sector; Strategic Capability; Agricultural Governance.
References
Akwabi, P., et al. (2021). Project governance and implementation performance study. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 20(4), 1-11.
Hammed, A., et al. (2023). Total quality management practices and corporate sustainable development in manufacturing companies: the mediating role of green innovation. Management Research Review, 46(1), 20-45.
Kaluyu, V., et al. (2022). Quality systems and operational performance improvement. International Journal of Project Management, 37(6), 855-869.
Shafiq, M., et al. (2019). Total quality management and performance improvement studies.
Stelson, C., et al. (2017). Quality systems in project environments. International Journal of Project Management, 33(9), 1135-1147.
Gitau, R., & Sang, P. (2022). Coffee sector governance and performance. Agricultural Policy Studies Journal.
Dubois, A., & Silvius, G. (2020). Project governance frameworks and their implications for sustainability. International Journal of Project Management, 38(5), 587-595.
Chow, K., et al. (2021). Certification frameworks in agricultural supply chains: Institutionalizing quality practices. Sustainability, 12(6), 2678.
Akwabi, P., et al. (2021). Quality management frameworks and project implementation performance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 147(9), 04022010.
Thomo, M. (2021). Project implementation performance and governance systems. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(1), 50-63.
Kaluyu, V., et al. (2022). Quality management practices and performance measurement in agricultural systems. Agriculture and Sustainability, 28(1), 5-15.
