DETERMINANTS, BARRIERS AND OUTCOMES OF ISO 9001 IMPLEMENTATION IN SMEs

Since its inception in 1987, ISO 9001 has become one of the most implemented quality management systems in organizations around the world. Due to its wide application and international recognition, it is widely regarded as a prerequisite for successful internationalization. In the era of digitalization, transformation of labor and capital markets and emergence of born-global companies, questions are being asked if ISO 9001 is as important as it used to be. This is especially relevant in the context of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) that form the economic backbone of developed countries. The growing market globalization has changed the landscape in which SMEs compete, and many enter international markets from their inception. The aim of this paper is to answer the question how and under which circumstances SMEs make the decision to get ISO 9001 certification. In order to shed more light on this understudied issue we offer a systematization of the literature on the topic of ISO 9001 and SMEs, with a special emphasis on key determinants and barriers of ISO 9001 implementation in SMEs as well as the key outcomes in terms of SME performance following the ISO 9001 implementation.