Quality Of Sustainable Development Research Articles

Developing value-based leadership for sustainable quality development: a meta-analysis from a study of Lean manufacturing

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how leaders can develop value-based leadership for sustainable quality development in Lean manufacturing.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative meta-analysis was conducted using data from a three-year study of Lean manufacturing in Sweden using the Shingo business excellence model as an analytical framework.FindingsThis study demonstrates that leaders can develop value-based leadership to support Lean manufacturing by defining and articulating the organization’s values and accompanying behaviors that are needed to support the strategic direction; creating forums and time for leaders to identify the why behind decisions and reflect on their experiences to be able to lead a transformative process; and using storytelling to create a coaching culture to connect values and behaviors, to the processes and systems of work.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes insights for developing value-based leadership to support a systemic approach to sustainable quality development in lean manufacturing. Findings are based on a limited case sample size of three manufacturing companies in Sweden.Originality/valueThe findings were derived using a unique methodological approach combining storytelling, appreciative inquiry and coaching with traditional data collection methods including surveys and interviews to identify, define and shape value-based leadership in Lean manufacturing.

Understanding long-term thinking as a management strategy to support sustainable quality development: perspectives from education

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the concept of long-term thinking in a non-business context to gain deeper insights into bridging the gap between the theory of long-term thinking and its application as a management strategy.Design/methodology/approachTo explore the concept of long-thinking further in a non-business setting, a grounded theory study was conducted with preschool leaders in a municipality in Sweden to examine how the leaders describe, define and apply the concept of long-term thinking in their schools. Interviews with school leaders, both written and oral, were used for data collection.FindingsThis study illustrates that the concept of long-term thinking can be twofold. First, the description can be as an anchor that reflects a mission. Second, the description can be a steering mechanism that guides decision-making. The findings also reinforce the importance of organisations developing an organisational culture that connect their vision and goals with the values and needs of their customers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was carried out in a single organisation and shows a snapshot of the organisation's status at the time the data were collected. Therefore, the findings are not generalisable to all organisational settings; rather the findings may be transferable to other settings.Practical implicationsThe results can be used to help identify areas where preschools in a municipal context can engage with sustainable quality development in order to build systems that support work with quality in a more structured way.Originality/valueLong-term thinking is seen, within both theory and organisations, as necessary to achieve success in terms of sustainable development and quality, and this study contributes with knowledge about the current gap between theories of long-term thinking and practice in organisations.

Interaction between ecosystem service supply and urbanization in northern China

Rapid urbanization has profoundly changed ability of ecosystem to supply welfare and resulted a series of environmental issues, in turn, such results not only affected the economic growth, but also the quality of sustainable development. Therefore, deeply understanding the interaction between ecosystem service (ES) supply and urbanization is of great significance. As a case study of northern China, we attempt to build an effective framework to evaluate past and future states of the interaction between ES supply and urbanization from quantification spatiotemporal pattern of coupling coordination degree (CD), decoupling path exploration, driving factor analysis to grey prediction model construction. It tries to better improve the interaction between ES supply and urbanization, as well as provide some effective policies for local condition. Results showed that the synthesis coefficient of urbanization (URSC) and CD has been significantly improved from 1995 to 2020 at province scale, while the synthesis coefficient of ES supply (ESSC) and decoupling index score are fluctuating. All of indicators revealing differences between the west and east regions. The east region has the highest levels of ESSC, URSC, CD and decoupling index score during the last twenty-five years. The driving factors including annual precipitation (Precipitation), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), cropland area (Cropland), grassland area (Grassland), unused land area (Unused land) all have a spatiotemporal impact on the CD with divergent significances, among which the effect of NDVI is the most significant. Finally, the grey prediction model was applied to predict the ESSC, URSC, CD and decoupling index in the future. The findings reveal a growing state for ESSC and CD in province scale, while a decline state of URSC. Based on the aforementioned results, some scientific policies were proposed for different regions to improve sustainable development.

Strategy adaptation for sustainable quality management in universities: a systematic literature review

Despite its roots in environmental discussions, sustainability has become a critical term influencing every aspect of organisations. As human-oriented institutions, universities have also embraced the ‘sustainable development’ concept on the quality of their internal and external services. Two overarching questions are most important for university managers to strategically guide sustainable quality development in their institutions: Which strategies do university managers adapt to construct a “sustainable quality management” structure in their universities? and how are these adapted strategies related to different aspects/components of universities? In response, we employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) protocol to analyse the existing studies in the related literature. During the systematic review, we followed five steps sequentially: i) defining the research question(s), ii) setting inclusion–exclusion criteria, iii) recording eligible studies, iv) quality overview of selected studies, and v) discussing prominent results. To integrate the results, we benefitted from five enablers in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model and the sub-sections given in the European University Association’s (EUA) institutional evaluation reports. The results revealed that the initial steps for university leadership to establish a ‘Sustainable Quality Management’ system are integrating a sustainable quality approach to the main strategy document, and then motivating their staff to participate in and enrich the reform-level cultural changes in their universities. This study also discusses the strategies adapted to sustain quality development in universities’ teaching, research, societal services, and internationalisation practices.

Prediction of Sports Performance and Analysis of Influencing Factors Based on Machine Learning and Big Data Statistics

Performance prediction is one of the important contents of sports future development strategy research. This paper conducts research on sports performance prediction and influencing factor analysis based on machine learning and big data statistics. The purpose of forecasting research is to formulate short-term, medium-term, and long-term sports development planning and policy services for decision-makers of sports development. Advantages and disadvantages make sports workers consciously revise and realize their own sports future plans. First, the analysis of the influencing factors of sports performance is proposed, including the setting and scoring of sports examination items, research on standards, training methods for physical examination items, and physical examination learning. Second, the application of big data statistics based on machine learning algorithms is studied. Based on machine optimization algorithms, it summarizes the naive Bayesian classification algorithm and big data statistical classification algorithm. The theoretical idea of rough set algorithm and finally through the comparative analysis experiment based on big data statistics of male and female sports test scores and the comparison experiment of the accuracy of three algorithms to predict the results, it is concluded that the endurance quality of boys is better than that of girls, which indicates the quality of sustainable development. There is a certain gender gap, there are significant differences in the skills of male and female students, and the machine-optimized algorithm can predict sports performance with the highest accuracy among the three algorithms.

Membangun Kerangka Konseptual Aspek Penguat Daya Saing Daerah (Studi Kasus di Kabupaten Jombang)

In the context of global competition, the level of competitiveness is one of the parameters used to realize sustainable development. The higher the regional competitiveness, the higher the level of community welfare. Regional competitiveness is the ability of the region to achieve sustainable quality development in order to achieve a high level of welfare while remaining open to domestic and international competition. However, efforts to strengthen regional competitiveness are, on average, difficult for the regions to carry out due to the relative lack of conceptual framework models in constructing indicators of regional competitiveness. Therefore, this study aims to construct indicators of regional competitiveness to create quality and sustainable development. Based on the qualitative method that was strengthened by FGD activities, this study found that there are four aspects that shape regional competitiveness, namely: (i) market aspects; (ii) HR aspects; (iii) aspects of the innovation ecosystem; and (iv) supporting aspects. Strengthening these four aspects based on their respective indicators can increase productivity, progress, competition, and regional independence. By measuring regional competitiveness and combining it with the advantages of local resources, it is hoped that the regional positioning can be known to improve development in the future. The results of this study can be used as a reference for local governments in making policies that are more targeted and encourage program synergies between sectors.

New visions for sustainability during a pandemic Towards sustainable wellbeing in a changing planet

Sustainability has been evolving in tandem with societal progress, and as humankind advances, the vision and quality of sustainable development will also change, and most likely in ways that are as yet unpredictable. Sustainability might be incrementally achieved through the integration of economics with biology, philosophy, and neurology. It might also be realized by enhancing our knowledge, our sense and appreciation of environmental beauty and by qualitative and authentic improvements of places, especially tourism destinations. At the end, changes in the physical world only come through changes in human mentality and consciousness. In recent decades, the human mind has been producing exponential changes, though some of these have been delivered in perhaps less than desirable directions. Sustainability, in this sense, is an unending process of moving toward positive outcomes, defined by shifting human beliefs, desires, knowledge, and experiences. Health concerns have always prevented the desires and myths of traveling, but COVID 19 is also precluding the needs of moving.

Using design thinking to support value-based leadership for sustainable quality development

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present findings from a study of value-based leadership in which design thinking was used as a participatory, iterative process to examine and stimulate changes in organizational culture and develop value-based leadership in Swedish manufacturing. Of particular interest to the authors was to make visible and understand the constraints in leadership that kept leaders from understanding and working with organizational culture and values.Design/methodology/approachA three-year multi-site case study was conducted in collaboration with three manufacturing companies in Sweden. The study design was based on a collaborative, iterative model using the Stanford Design thinking framework in which data were collected through a series of workshops using a variety of sources including: leadership survey; interviews with three general directors; focus groups with middle- and top-level managers; observations and cultural analysis, survey; storytelling and appreciative inquiry (AI); and an employee questionnaire. Respondents in the study represented leadership teams in three Swedish manufacturing companies and their employees.FindingsIn general, there is a lack of dialogue among leaders about what is leadership, what is culture and what is meant by values in the organization. As well, there is a heavy emphasis on structure and process, yet, at the same time, there lacks a clear understanding about why the structures exist and how they can be used to spawn innovation. Moreover, participating leaders in manufacturing succumb to a crisis leadership model that results from the heavy emphasis on productivity and bottom-line effectiveness. Design thinking and the methods used to develop work culture, including AI, storytelling and coaching, provided leaders with new insights into the culture within the company. Leaders were able to identify both constraints and possibilities for changing the culture from disengagement to engagement. Through the process, they also began to identify values and recognized the importance of valuing employees to affect innovation and build a culture of engagement. The authors also witnessed increased dialogue among leaders that reflected an understanding of the importance to engage middle managers and employees in problem solving and innovation.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that leaders can benefit from innovative approaches to identifying and building work culture to achieve value-based leadership.

Strengthening quality culture in private sector and health care

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive approach to studying organizational culture using “soft measures” to facilitate sustainable quality development in organizations. The purpose is also to present, discuss and compare the results from a survey designed to measure a company’s value base.Design/methodology/approachA number of different methods were used to collect soft data to study and measure organizational culture and at the same time influence the culture and the leadership within three organizations. One method, the survey, was used on two different occasions to obtain an overview of the culture within an organization and to investigate if the activities had influenced the culture and the leadership.FindingsThe application of soft measures used by leaders to study and develop organizational culture resulted in statistically significant positive changes in organizational work culture, according to a pre-post survey after a short period of one year.Practical implicationsThe approach can be used by leaders in different types of organizations as the challenge of changing the organizational culture through the leadership seems to be a common challenge regardless of line of business.Originality/valueThe study shows the benefits of using a comprehensive approach to assess an organization’s culture based on qualitative measures and analysis.

Impact evaluation of quality management in higher education: a contribution to sustainable quality development in knowledge societies

ABSTRACTSince (higher) education is more important than ever in knowledge societies, high priority should be ascribed to quality management in higher education institutions and its effectiveness. However, there is still a lack of systematic evaluation of the latter, particularly analyses which are not restricted to ex-post gathered data and expert assessments. The articles in this special issue contribute to overcome these shortcomings in several ways: One article is reflecting on success factors and un-/intended effects of quality management, another one is analyzing more discoursive ways of evidence-informed guidance of quality management policies which are complementary to rigorous impact studies. Five articles investigate quality management effectiveness by ex-post and simultaneous impact evaluation in European case studies, including assessments of students, teachers, quality managers and leadership. Finally, a SWOT analysis of impact evaluation of quality management in higher education institutions is carried out and suggested as a tool for bridging the notorious gap between methodology and implementation.

The New Crucial Goal of World Education: The Quality of Sustainable Development

The survey and case study also reveal the same worrying educational reality. The quality of sustainable development in primary and secondary schools has been significantly reduced with the increase of grade in Beijing, China. The relationship between teachers and students is becoming increasingly tense because of the wrong values, and the moral added value of education is increasingly doubted. Human beings should rethink their own ways of living and learning, and unify green development, green schools, ecological civilization and sustainable development in the overall interests of human beings, and abandon narrow, selfish, greedy and vicious competition from each other. Sustainable development civilization is the latest stage of human civilization, which also originated in the gene of Chinese ancient civilization 5000 years ago. Human beings should achieve tolerance and reconciliation through education for sustainable development as soon as possible. Its success marks the establishment of a new key objective of world education as the quality of sustainable development: the truthfulness, noble, responsibility and hopefulness.

Traditional products: Base for the sustainable development of Serbian animal origin products

Research results on the diversity of traditional products of animal origin from certain areas of the Republic of Serbia, provides an opportunity to become part of the sustainable quality development, which would be based on their promotion and protection of local resources. Traditional products of animal origin are different and inseparable from the local identity, typical for nation and its food culture. Through confidence-building, and protection from oblivion, the value of domestic products, had preserved trough centuries-old tradition. Nowadays, each domestic product has its own recognisable taste, representing climate of the Republic of Serbia, from which it comes. Universally accepted model of rural institutional structure does not exist. Instead it accommodates and develops in accordance to needs, possibilities and area specific characteristics. By the efficient protection rural models becomes an investment incentives and contribute to general economic and industrial prosperity of the society.

The European Education Quality Benchmark System: helping teachers to work with information to sustain change

Applying the concept of ‘quality’ to education has been controversial, making it difficult for educators to develop systems for sustainable quality development in schools that meet the needs of governmental accountability and pedagogical practice. The varying perspectives reflect conflicting views about what is quality and, morevoer, how quality can and should be measured. Over the last several decades, numerous programmes and strategies have been developed at the European level to assist schools in developing quality in education, as well as giving perspective to the underlying questions. In 2003, the European Education Quality Benchmark System (2EQBS) was designed with the intent to bridge the paradigmatic camps regarding quality in education, providing educators with a holistic framework to examine their practices in relation to the needs of their community, national curricula, pedagogical principles, and European partners. A formal content validation and usability study were conducted of the quality development tool to examine the degree to which the 2EQBS provides educators with a framework to facilitate school development through cross‐cultural partnerships in an age of accountability. Findings from this study are presented in this article and contribute insight into the possibilities for creating a framework that facilitates school development through cross‐cultural partnerships and provides teachers with a system for helping to sustain change.

Institutional responses to development pressures: Resilience of social-ecological systems in Himachal Pradesh, India

SUMMARY In the Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India, economic and urban growth, and diversification have increased pressure on forests and forest-based social-ecological systems. As in many Himalayan regions, livelihood sustainability is linked to forest resources, products and services. Recent development in the region, to which these systems may be vulnerable, brings into question environmental and livelihood sustainability. This paper examines the resilience of integrated systems of people and nature, or social-ecological systems, in the face of development pressures by evaluating a number of local and state-level institutional responses. Resilience, which describes the ability of the social-ecological systems to adapt to change by buffering shocks, improving self-organization and increasing capacity for learning, is an essential quality for sustainable development. Institutional responses which positively contribute to resilience and sustainability include the work of mahila mandals in forest management, adoption of Joint Forest Management (JFM) policies and practices, upholding rules, strengthening local institutions, establishing firewood depots and adopting alternative energy sources. Institutional failures brought about by the lack of rule enforcement and corruption erode resilience. The analysis of institutional responses helps to identify areas where capacity exists and areas in which capacity building is needed to produce resilient social-ecological systems and therefore, sustainable development.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance

Accreditation and quality assurance at universities have gained new meaning in Switzerland – as in other European nations – through the concurrent increase in autonomy, new educational institutions offering international courses and the implementation of the Bologna Declaration. With respect to these developments the Swiss government together with the university cantons agreed to jointly establish an Accreditation and Quality Assurance Board which would be responsible not only for accreditation questions, but also for quality assurance and quality promotion at the universities. The discussions surrounding the creation of an institution, which critically examines quality in the area of higher education, provoked a controversial debate in Switzerland. However, after several months of intensive discussions between universities and political bodies (government and administration) the different points of view eventually led to a model that today enjoys the broad support of all of the parties involved. This model has the following advantages: It focuses not only on accreditation i.e. fulfilling of minimum standards, but also on implementation of quality assurance mechanisms to guarantee sustainable quality development at universities and it provides accreditation for institutions as well as programs.