Abstract:

The article focuses on Soft Total quality management and its role in creating job satisfaction and innovation among employees in Tunisian companies. The role of Soft TQM is an essential approach to increase the efficiency and flexibility of individuals. Soft TQM allows each employee to be involved at all levels and functions to work towards the goal of the organization. In-depth literature review conducts to elaborate a set of hypotheses and a conceptual model where Innovation is the dependent variable, Soft TQM is the independent variable, and job satisfaction is a mediator variable . Quantitative methodology is adopted basing on a sample of 163 Tunisian companies. Regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses in the study. Main results show that Soft TQM practices are an important element in achieving employee satisfaction at work. The study strongly supports the idea that Soft TQM is a "prerequisite" for organizational innovation. Soft TQM has, not only, an impact on organizational innovation, but also, on employees who are the main determinant of this innovation. Therefore, business leaders should develop a greater awareness of Soft TQM practices with more satisfactory responses to employees.