College of Business Administration

Abstract

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a global network of international standard in business, government and society. One of the series followed by businesses is ISO 9001:2008 that develops quality management system to meet customer expectations. This study aimed to know the implications and effects of ISO 9001:2008 in the business operations of selected companies in Cavite Economic Zone, one of the biggest workplaces in Cavite. Specifically, this study would determine the respondents’ profiles, the reasons why they chose to be certified, its internal and external impacts to the company, company's compliance to the ISO Principles, and the issues encountered in the certification periods.
As significance, certified companies might improve their management through the results and reviews of this study. Companies not yet certified, might get ideas on why and how to be a certified one. Researchers might improve their knowledge and experience towards writing studies. This might serve as a review and guide for future researchers. This research is done to understand the implications and effects of ISO 9001:2008 and in addition, would not talk over negative issues and weaknesses of the said standard.
Descriptive method was used to interpret the study. A sample of eight (8) companies was the respondents of this research. Through survey questionnaires divided into five (5) parts, the data were gathered. Using a convenience sampling,there are 299 companies within the Cavite Economic Processing Zone in Rosario, Cavite. The focuses of this study is on ISO certified companies inside, yet, there is no available record for the total number of  the said target according to the Cavite Economic Processing Zone (CEPZ) administration office.  A maximum sample of fifteen (15) certified companies and the minimum of five (5) were selected randomly. The data sheets were spread personally and through electronic mails. After the retrieving of data, they were tallied and analyzed. Using frequency counts, percentages, rankings and weighted means as statistical tools, the data were interpreted.
Majority of the respondents were established since the ‘90s. They were accredited by TUV NORD, NQA/KMAR, TUV Rheinland and AJA. Most of them were accredited years ago and some were just recently. Fifty percent (50%) were inclined in electronics manufacturing. With regards to the effects of ISO internally, it made a great change to the quality system, product/service, competitiveness, financial performance and human resource/organizational climate of the companies. From its rated grade of Fair and Good before being certified, it has been improved to a Very Good rate. On the other hand, ISO also brought a big change to the companies’ external factors such as international trades, suppliers, customer, stakeholders and market. From having grades of Fair and Good, it boosted up to Very Good and Excellent rates. In accordance to the Key Principles Compliance, the companies were said to be always complying to the standards of ISO regarding the customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making and mutually beneficial supplier relationships. With regards to the issues faced by the companies, top management commitment and providing trainings were their main difficulties during the pre-certification periods. During the process, they mentioned they had problems regarding the adequacy audits. For the post certification period, they have encountered difficulties in the continual improvement and corrective and preventive actions.
It is recommended to conduct a follow up study to monitor if the companies’ compliances to standards are continuously followed. It is also suggested to conduct studies regarding the negative issues and weaknesses of ISO to see if it should still be recommended as international standards. For a more valid and solid data, it is highly suggested to have a larger number of sample and longer period of data gathering.

Hopes and challenges were the focus of this study as it aimed at understanding the self-efficiency of Filipinos who were displaced at this pandemic period. Respondents were randomly taken from unaccounted pool of motor rider agents in Metro Manila and requested to respond on the survey provided to them. Results showed that in terms of hopes, Filipinorespondents Strongly Agree that they are dynamic, adaptable, and optimistic to surpass any difficulty and are very much hopeful that they will survive the challenges brought about by this Coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, when it comes to challenges, Filipino-respondents Strongly Agree that they are ready to solve difficult problems in terms of financial, health, food sustainability, spiritual/religious, and family social factors. Researchers therefore assumed that it is more than enough to say that combining the results achieved on the hopes and challenges of these Filipino-respondents, there is a strong basis that Filipinos are very much self-efficient as well as resilient as it is an innate characteristic on them with the influence of the environment and stimuli where they grow and their behaviors were molded to become better members of the society who are efficient, adaptable, ready to face the challenges, and hopeful amidst this pandemic period. This study also hope to possibly eliminate the notion about Filipinos negative values and instead strengthen and highlight the positive values that Filipinos are known for in the world which will bring constructive impact to those badly affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.