A new scientific article, published in the Journal of Organisational Change Management, presents a new way to measure and understand quality culture in terms of organizational values. Not as abstract ideals, but as concrete behaviors in everyday life.

The study, an SQMA research project in collaboration between SIQ, Mälardalen University, Mid Sweden University and SKI - Swedish Quality Index, shows that organizations' values can be analyzed through how they are put into action.

By studying variations in employee behaviour, four positions are identified along a so-called quality culture continuum, from status quo to organizational excellence. These positions describe how organizations can understand where they are and how they can take the next step in their cultural transformation.

The researchers have developed an expanded quality culture framework that combines classic quality values, such as leadership, customer focus and continuous improvement, with new values: professionalism, development and collaboration. The result is a more comprehensive view of how values, behaviours and outcomes are linked and how together they shape sustainable organizations.

Read the article (Open Access)

Authors: Anders Fundin, Ingela Bäckström, Pernilla Ingelsson, Kristen Snyder and Love Westin