Abstract:

The purpose of the study is to examine the influence of Total Quality Management (TQM) dimensions on competitive advantage of SMEs in Nigeria. It examined TQM along three popular dimensions: leadership, customer focus and continuous improvement quality. The study adopted a survey design, in which copies of the questionnaire were administered to 200 employees of twelve (12) selected fast food restaurants in Benin City. The data were analysed using Pearson matrix correlation techniques through Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation technique. The findings revealed that a positive and significant relationship exist among leadership, customer focus, continuous improvement quality and competitive advantage. Continuous improvement quality had a strong correlation with competitive advantage, leadership had a moderate relationship while customer focus had weak relationship.  Leadership was found to have the most positive influence, followed by continuous improvement quality, while customer focus had the least positive influence on competitive advantage. The study established that leadership, continuous improvement quality and customer focus are key TQM dimensions which the fast-food industry should seriously focus on in the quest for competitiveness.