The alignment of integrated management systems and business objectives : a case study approach applied to small and medium enterprises in Singapore

This research explores the factors aligning business objectives and Integrated Management Systems (IMS) in a Singaporean context. The findings of a case study approach applied to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) suggested that the causation factors and attributes are interchangeable. This study contributes to extant literature in three ways. First, the emergent model integrates and synthesises various aspects of business objectives and IMS. Second, the emergent elements and alignment model provide an understanding into the rationale of SMEs. Lastly, the four implementation dimensions and fourteen measurements model provides a simple way of improving the alignment of business objectives and IMS.