Mid Sweden University

In 2015, a project was initiated to explore how quality can be enhanced in Swedish businesses by developing an internal coaching process to support value-based leadership development. The three–year project, financed by The Knowledge Foundation, is a research and development partnership consisting of three Swedish manufacturing companies and Mid Sweden University. Results presented in the poster address both the process and outcomes from this project.

Purpose

To present the results in changes in a company's value-base two years into a project with the purpose to explore how quality can be enhanced when a value-based leadership is integrated with sustainable practices.

Method:

A number of activities were completed in the company. A survey was designed to measure SQD values as an indicator for value based leadership. The survey were administered both at the start of the project and then again one year later to measure changes in leadership and values. The results from the survey were first analyzed using SPSS (Cronbach Alpha and T-test) and then in relation to completed activities. This was done by the research team together with management team in the company.

Results:

The results will be the presentation of completed activities within the company as well as results from the two measurements shows that the mean of the measured values are higher in the second measurement when it comes to the whole factory. When it comes to the managers it is the opposite regarding how they look at their role when it comes to the values: Leadership commitment and Participation of everybody.

Conclusions so far:

• Measuring soft aspects helps to focus on culture and values.
• The wording of the statements can affect culture.
• Talking about leadership in connection to an organizations unique context initiates new dialog forms, topics, and gives the leaders a “leadership language”.
• Focusing on positive aspects of leadership creates energy and a solution focused climate.
• Statistically significant results can be shown after such a short period as one year.
• Increased pride in the team and the work-place!
• Further investigate correlations between factors.