Is employee involvement aligned with ISO 9001 quality management approaches? Evidence from ISO 9001–certified companies in Béjaïa[L’implication des salariés est-elle à la hauteur des démarches ISO 9001 visant à produire la qualité ? Cas des entreprises certifiées de la Wilaya de Béjaïa]

Since the first versions of the ISO 9001 standards were introduced in 1987, the number of certifications has steadily increased, rising by 72% over the past decade. The growing need for organizations to justify their societal commitment to stakeholders partly explains this trend. In light of this widespread enthusiasm, it seems appropriate to examine the nature of employee involvement and the role employees play in achieving organizational quality objectives. Numerous studies have already focused on quality management systems (QMSs), as highlighted by Schneider and Bowen (1985), Heskett et al. (1994), and Hackman and Wageman (1995). This study looks at one key dimension of the standard: Is employee involvement truly aligned with ISO 9001 quality management approaches aimed at ensuring high-quality outcomes? An empirical study was conducted with seventeen ISO 9001–certified companies in the wilaya of Béjaïa (Algeria). The findings suggest that effective managerial engagement with employees upstream of the ISO 9001 certification process is essential for achieving optimal quality performance.