Abstract
The 1990s saw a sharp increase in the number of organisations seeking formal ways of managing their standards of Quality Management (ISO 9001), Environmental Management (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001). These organisations enjoyed a competitive advantage in the eyes of their customers. Their competitors soon became aware of this strategy and followed on the same path, which eventually resulted in the saturation of Management Systems Standards (MSSs) worldwide. This became challenging to manage, as did having to deal with the escalating costs of certification audits associated with these MSSs.
The proliferation of certifiable Management Systems (MSs) has meant that organisations have had to increase their management capacity by seeking alternative strategies to keep up with the changing business environment to remain relevant. The integrated management system (IMS) provides an alternative by consolidating the separate MSs into one, meaning better management at reduced costs and closer alignment with the organisation’s strategy. However, several factors make it difficult for some organisations to implement the IMS successfully. These factors include a lack of resources, a lack of alignment with the organisation's strategy, and a lack of awareness of its strategic value to the organisation.
This study investigated how the integrated management systems could be aligned with the organisation’s strategy to enhance organisational sustainability and strategic decision-making capability of the business. Using a mixed methods research design through a literature review, documentation review of multiple case studies, and a focus group, the study found that readiness assessment was a critical success factor towards effective implementation of the integrated management system.
Consequently, a readiness assessment framework was developed and tested through industry experts to validate its practical applicability. Additionally, the change management and PDCA cycle provide flexibility for the application of the framework to ensure its alignment to the organisation’s goals and objectives. Finally, emerging
from the study, a readiness assessment framework was developed to facilitate effective implementation of the IMS.