Purpose of the paper: To elaborate on the idea that process management (PM) must be infused with a quality culture (QC) to function and reach expected performance targets. The framework of change-driven process management (CDPM) (Cronemyr et al., 2024) has been used in modern and comprehensive PM. Behaviours supporting long- and short-term action and development (Cronemyr et al., 2017; Mårtensson, 2022) have been used as the frame for QC. The purpose of this study is to investigate where and how certain behaviours relate to different PM scenarios. Furthermore, the roles of other behaviours not mentioned in this framework are investigated with respect to successful PM.

Methodology: The paper is based on previous research and deductive discussions among the three authors.

Main Findings: The CDPM framework is defined by four scenarios differentiated by two dichotomies: stability vs. change and control vs. creativity. Two of the scenarios, traditional PM and trust-based PM, are characterised as stable; however, the first is governed more by control and the second more by creativity. Traditional PM is sometimes ‘slow and rigid’, whereas trust-based PM is more ‘free and creative’. However, trust-based PM can sometimes lead to greater process variation, tampering and unpredictable results. The analysis reveals that long-term behaviours are more common in traditional PM, whereas short-term behaviours are more common in trust-based PM. Both types of behaviour may be ‘effective’ in the appropriate circumstances; otherwise, the opposite behaviour may be recommended.

Practical implications: This study reveals how different behaviours characteristic of a quality culture can support organisations in implementing and working with PM.

Originality/value: PM and QC are well-researched areas within quality management; however, the intersection of these areas requires further investigation and development.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest quality criteria that may be suitable for the evaluation and development of doctoral supervision.

Methodology: Three unpublished papers written by three authors for a higher education course in doctoral supervision were deductively analysed using the ‘five facets’ of doctoral supervision as an analytical framework.

Main findings: Findings from the analysis provide a broader picture of the different papers’ contributions to the ‘five facets’ of doctoral supervision and how values in a quality culture can support bridging the perspectives of quality in doctoral supervision with quality management. Furthermore, the authors suggest six overarching quality criteria for doctoral supervision: focus on the doctoral student’s needs, improve continuously by reflecting on supervision and the need for training, base decisions regarding supervision on lived knowledge and experience, allow the doctoral student to take an active part in forming herBegränsad delningor his research process, focus on supporting the doctoral student in the academic processes, and develop committed leadership by supporting and guiding the doctoral student.

Research limitations/Practical implications: Assessing quality and addressing areas for the development of doctoral supervision may serve as effective means of achieving higher standards in doctoral supervision.

Originality/Value: Identifying and assessing the quality of doctoral supervision may strengthen both the well-being and self-confidence of the doctoral student, as well as the supervisor’s reflective capacity and practice development.

This paper address challenges and pitfalls associated with BDA in operations management that increase the risk of tampering. i.e. actions taken by misinterpreted data that worsen rather than improve performance. Through a rapid literature review, the paper identifies pitfalls in data management, data analysis, and decision-making. Findings reveal an overrepresentation of reported challenges on data management, with significantly less attention given to the subsequent stages of data analysis and decision-making. This paper suggest that more research is needed on how users interact with data, how dashboards and BI tools affect decision-making, and what organisational conditions contribute to tampering in BDA.

Background and purpose of the paper: In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, thepossibility of developing prediction models has garnered attention for their ability to anticipateproduct properties based on process settings. In paperboard making, in which you have lowsampling rates, with time delays to sampling and about 2000 process variables that affect theoutcome, it is easy to believe that these types of prediction models drastically can improveprocess yield by providing guidance to operators. However, paperboard making is evaluated bymultiple quality properties that intercorrelate with each other and the deployment of numerousprediction models without understanding of normal process variation can lead to an informationoverload, causing tampering and lead to a reduced quality output.Methodology: This paper investigates the feasibility of using machine learning models topredict total quality yield on a full-scale paperboard machine.Main Findings: By changing the focus to an aggregated level, our study aims to alleviate theburden of information overload and reduce the risk of tampering.Originality/Practical implications: The research shows that it is possible to predict the totalquality yield with reasonable accuracy. The approach seems promising, and it is believed thatit could provide insight for operators and support operational management.Type of paper: Full scale case study

Purpose of the paper: To elaborate on the idea that the clock-speed of processes controlled with Big Data Analytics (BDA) is increasing to the point that the risk of tampering might become a problem with process instability as a consequence.Methodology: The paper is based on previous research and the predictions made by the authors.Main Findings: Traditional Process Management, with ‘control and stability’, can suffer from slow improvements. Today, fast changes are necessary. The emergence of BDA has made this possible. However, BDA is often descriptive and diagnostic, but seldom predictive and prescribing. On the other hand, that could be achieved by combining BDA with QM/QC tools. Unfortunately, this is seldom executed. Without, there is a risk of getting ‘fooled by randomness’, and the faster the pace, the bigger the risk of tampering and thus, increasing variation, and hence decreasing quality.Practical implications: An enhanced understanding of the connection between BDA and tampering will lead to better decisions and results.Originality/value: Although tampering is an old concept, it is under-researched and in need of further investigation.Type of paper: Research idea

Purpose of the paper: To explore the relations between the process management methodology (PM) and the Dynamic Capabilities theory (DC) by identifying synergies, conflicts, and missing relations between them.Methodology: The paper is based on a systematic and two narrative literature reviews with a snowballing approach.Main Findings: In this paper we identify two types of relations between these two concepts: conceptual, in terms of principles and their definitions; and for support. Moreover, we identify conflicts for companies to strive for exploration and exploitation simultaneously, which might be required for some of the synergies between the concepts. In terms of support synergies, certain preconditions were found for the synergy to occur.Practical implications: A better understanding of the synergies between PM and DC and the identification of preconditions that enable the support of PM for DC and vice versa.Originality/value: PM and DC have been researched since the 80s. However, their relation under-researched and it might have potential for enhancing the flexibility of the methodology, allowing companies to rapidly adapt to changes and innovation.

There is a lack of feasible managerial tools to support companies in their greening initiatives. The objective of this paper is to propose a tool - Green Karma - for monitoring and proactively managing initiatives for environmental sustainability. We present findings from an action research project involving two freight transport companies. The tool is based on Quality Function Deployment but has been adapted to capture various dimensions of environmental efforts. As goals, in traditional QFD labelled as customer needs, we applied national environmental goals, thereby widening the scope of the customer to a societal perspective. Regarding the means, traditionally labelled as functions, we instead documented greening initiatives in the companies and applied them in the tool. Using the Green Karma tool resulted in increased pro-activity. New initiatives were taken among the companies. Furthermore, a more structured approach and firm commitment to realise ideas were observed. Thus, the tool has shown its potential to increase the pace of greening the companies operations and strategies. QFD has previously been used to analyse and prioritise environmental activities but it has not been used before as a proactive tool for driving and implementing environmental initiatives. In this paper, such an application is presented.

Purpose

Digital transformations are changing society, and they force industries to react to the market more frequently. Managers are aware of new technical demands, which increase the pressure of meeting those demands. To meet technical demands, radical innovations are one way to stay competitive. However, it is more complex to make them a part of the business. The purpose of this study was to create a framework for small and medium-sized enterprises to become more efficient by starting to digitalise their business processes with the expertise of an external innovation partner.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was performed at a case company with an abductive approach where both deduction and induction were used to study the empirical findings and formulate new theories in relation to recognised theory. Qualitative methods have been used in the empirical study due to their flexibility and the fact that the focus of the information gathering was to create a context.

Findings

The analysis indicates that a certain level of process maturity can be put in relation to a certain innovation level and a certain level of digital change. According to a process maturity model, an adaptable process could respond to changes in customer demands better, which can be related to changes in the business domain and the society. The research resulted in a conceptual cooperative model based on the three domains of the study. The model has been validated using design reviews with the case company, a consultancy firm and together with an innovation partner.

Practical implications

The model will be a practical template for Small and Medium Enterprises to follow when digitalising business processes and how to prioritise them.

Originality/value

The proposed framework of how to digitalise at different innovation levels coupled to process maturity levels is a novel idea that could be used for further research.

While the usage of process management within the freight transport industry is unknown and presumed low, it has been used within other sectors as an efficient approach for dealing with and fulfilling customer demands as well as environmental requirements. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how process management can enhance a customer focused greening in the transport and logistics sector. We present a literature review of the intersections of process management, freight transport and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we conducted a case study of how two environmentally ambitious Swedish freight transport companies use process management to enhance environmental sustainability. We found that environmentally ambitious freight transport companies do not proactively use process management, and that workshops with topical experts and practitioners can be a way for introducing process management to enhance environmental sustainability in such companies.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities of using improvement systems based on process management for increasing environmental initiatives in freight transport companies.Methodology: The study was conducted by researchers from quality management and green logistics together with two Swedish freight companies, as a combination of case study and action research. Data were gathered through observations, interviews, document studies and workshops, over an eighteen-month period.Findings: The paper presents findings about how to implement improvement processes and the impact on environmental initiatives.Research implications: The study brings new knowledge about a previously under-researched topic; how to implement green logistics. Tools used for process management and improvements are applied in a novel context – the freight transport sector. Furthermore, the action-oriented approach proved to be pragmatic and effective.Practical implications: This paper contributes with findings on how to establish processes and implementing improvement systems in the freight transport sector. Additionally, the action research approach provides the opportunity to develop the business in cooperation with researchers.Originality: In this unique study, methods and tools from the quality management sector are applied to a new context – the freight transport sector – to improve the environmental sustainability.