Sources of ISO 9001 quality management system requirements in management sciences

Introduction/background: The success of ISO 9001 quality management system results from its inner integrity and complexity based on rich achievements of management sciences. Thus deeper understanding of particular components and requirements of the standard demands paying attention to their sources deriving from specific concepts and methods of management, which became an inspiration for the international standardization in the area of quality management in organization. Aim of the paper: The aim of the paper is to identify and interpret the sources of current requirements of ISO 9001 quality management system in the legacy of management sciences. Materials and methods: The study includes literature review aimed at capturing the substantive and historical connections between the developed concepts and methods of management and the contemporary shape of systemic solutions in the field of quality management expressed by means of ISO 9001 standard. Results and conclusions: The requirements of ISO 9001 quality management system are characterized by a number of substantive links with the achievements of management sciences developed throughout the history, derived both from classical and modern concepts and methods of management. Originality of this work results from holistic and historical approach to identification and interpretation of sources for changing requirements of the quality management system. The value lies in formulating specific managerial conclusions to improve the evolution, implementation and application of ISO 9001 standard in the future.