NB! This track text is confirmed and approved by track chairs.

Track Chairs

• Christer Hedlund, Mid Sweden University, Sweden.
  christer.hedlund@miun.se
• Kristen Snyder, Mid Sweden University, Sweden.
  kristen.snyder@miun.se
• Carmen Jaca, Technical University of Navarra.
  cjaca@tecnun.es
• Raine Isaksson, Uppsala University, Sweden
  raine.isaksson@angstrom.uu.se

Goals and Objectives of the Track

The growing global imperative to address questions of sustainability outlined in among other things the UN Agenda 2030 creates sense of urgency that is stimulating important new questions about the interrelationship between quality and sustainability, and how organisations, at all levels, both public and private, can contribute to a sustainable future. Among the questions currently addressed in the field of quality management are for example, how can value and value creation be understood to help organisations meet the needs of customer and the expectations from stakeholders and the society as a whole? How can organisations design and improve quality practices, process and methods that promote strategies and behaviours contributing to sustainability?  

In the field of quality management, questions of sustainabili2§ty are not new, yet they are changing and expanding. Traditionally, within quality management it has been the customer and the customer’s needs that continuously drive improvement of products and organisations so that quality is maximized with respect to the customers. Quality improvements addressing sustainability first came about from an economic perspective, and later from social and environmental perspectives. Global trends are now enhancing knowledge about sustainability and the “voice of the customer” is placing new demands on organisations to contribute to sustainable practices that embrace a holistic approach: economic, social and environment. Innovative practices and quality management tools are being designed to meet this expanded view of quality in relation to sustainability. 

The ability within organisations to understand and adapt to the complexities of customer value and a sustainable society is paramount to lead and innovate tomorrows sustainable organisations. This success will depend upon the ability of organisations to understand the interplay between sustainability and quality to meet the needs of customers, as well as the expectations of stakeholders, now and tomorrow. 

This track examines how the perspectives and practices from quality and quality management can support sustainable development on the organisational level as well on a global level. We are particularly interested in papers that highlight synergies between quality and sustainable development. 

This track welcomes papers that are particularly focused on the following areas:  

• Synergies between Quality, Quality Management and Sustainability 
• Leadership and Strategies for Sustainable Quality 
• Organisational Culture for Sustainable Quality and Innovation
• Expanding the concept of Value Creation beyond the primary Customer

Papers will also be considered that address additional topics including: 

• Stakeholder management including Stakeholder Expectations, Satisfaction and Support 
• Sustainable Process management, shop-floor sustainability 
• Integrated Management and Environmental Systems 
• Connections between Circular Economy and Quality Management 

Length and content of the proposed abstract to the track

Each proposed abstract (in connection to an area pointed out above) of between 300 and 500 words (including all aspects),

1. shall be best organized (without headlines) along usual structures (e.g. intro/method/findings or results/ discussion/conclusions)
2. does not need to, but can include references
3. shall provide in a final section
   a. to which SDG(s) and SDG-target(s) their proposed abstract especially relate to (e.g. “SDG+Target: 14.1.”).
   b. a brief indication how the proposed contribution relates to the topic of the Conference (“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COURAGE: CULTURE, ART AND HUMAN RIGHTS”).

Abstracts which do not outline points 3.a.) AND 3.b.) might not be given special consideration in the selection for potential publications and might be considered less relevant in the review.

Potential publication channels

With regard to potential publications, depending on the number and quality of contributions, diverse publication opportunities will be envisaged.

Submission

Deadline for submitting abstracts: See Submissions