Quality in organizations: its capacity for transformation to create sustainable value

Abstract

This paper shows the growing importance of the commitment of people and organizations to continuous personal, institutional and social improvement in order to generate sustainable value. It analyzes the evolution of the concept of quality in the different development stages of the organizations and specifies the main systems of recognition of quality and excellence at a global level, obtaining the results of the recognitions with the systems of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) both by sectors and by countries in the last years. The progress has been significant and there is still a long way to go to achieve, as far as possible, the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations for 2030. The proposal for the new EFQM Model will undoubtedly contribute to achieving the SDGs. Because the model offers a framework and methodology to help with the changes, transformation and disruption that people and organizations face every day by measuring where they are on the path to sustainable value creation.