Our philosophy is based on creating a holistic approach and contributing to a culture that prioritizes continuous improvement. We are now doing a thorough update of the SIQ Model. Åsa Rönnbäck, who is leading the work, explains the development project here.

How is the work on updating the SIQ Model progressing?

It is going well! It has been a work in progress for two years now. We are conducting it as an interactive research project and it is a co-production between researchers and practitioners. For SIQ as a research institute and bridge between academia and practice, interactive research is the best method to start from. But it also takes a lot of time to conduct research studies and develop products together with others. The development work does not mean that the model is wrong today. It is basically good and contains the right building blocks for the most part, but development is moving fast today and there are areas where the model is weaker that we are strengthening.

What has been done? What remains to be done?

During these two years we have developed a prototype for the SIQs model. The prototype has been developed together with researchers and in workshops with practitioners. We have come so far that we are now testing this prototype in five organizations in different industries: transport, real estate, industry, region and school. Based on this test, we will evaluate and improve the prototype this fall. For a developed model, we also write a handbook with research-based recommendations on how the model can be used to achieve results. In addition, we need to make the model more digital than it is today. The aim is to make the model more user-friendly.

Are you satisfied with the new model?

I am convinced that the changes made to the model are just right to make the model even more relevant for Swedish organizations and companies. 

How will the new model be launched?

We will have three launch dates towards the end of the year: November 22 in Gothenburg, December 5 in Stockholm, and December 7 in Malmö. By then the model will be ready and we will tell you about the changes made and give advice on its use.

Does SIQ suggest that all organizations working with the SIQ Model switch to the new model in 2018?

One piece of advice is to review the developed model next year to see if the organization has developed working methods and results in all areas that the model requires, including innovation in the form of major renewal leaps and sustainability. For those organizations that have a business description produced based on SIQ's current model and want to work with the new model, work needs to be done both to transfer working methods and results to the new structure, but also to supplement in areas that the new model requires. Before starting to use the new model, we recommend that a stakeholder analysis be carried out to know which customers and stakeholders the organization has. This is because sustainability has been clearly integrated throughout the model and requires both working methods and results for all sustainability dimensions.

Why is an update needed?

Research has shown that the model has potential for improvement. There are challenges that Swedish organizations and companies face today that the model does not address. Updates are also needed in terms of language and concepts. Research has also identified which areas of the model have the greatest impact on results and which areas do not drive results. Here, too, we have seen that the model needs to be revised. SIQ's Model should be updated and relevant, but also drive results. We have placed great focus on this in the development work.