Propensity for ISO 9001 recertification: internal and external determinants

ISO 9001 recertification is strategically important but remains underexplored. Although rising decertification rates have raised concerns about the sustained value of certification, many organisations continue to renew their certificates. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study examines a broad set of internal and external determinants of ISO 9001 recertification propensity. These determinants include motivations, barriers, benefits, activities, and expected performance. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with closed-ended Likert-type items and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 250 ISO 9001-certified organisations. The results show that recertification motivations, maintenance activities, and expected performance after recertification exert significant direct positive effects on recertification propensity. Contrary to expectations, certification barriers do not reduce recertification propensity; instead, they are positively associated with recertification motivations and certification benefits, thereby indirectly contributing to maintenance activities and recertification propensity. Overall, certification motivations, barriers, and benefits influence organisations’ inclination to renew ISO 9001 certification through at least one mediating mechanism. These findings contribute to advancing Theory of Planned Behaviour-based research on ISO 9001 recertification and offer relevant implications for researchers and managers seeking to sustain the value of quality management systems.