Using quality management as a bridge in educating for sustainability in a business school

Abstract

Purpose

To demonstrate how quality management (QM), a widely accepted management paradigm, can be used to advance education for sustainability in the business curriculum.

Design/methodology/approach

The assumptions of QM and environmental sustainability are explored. A class exercise is developed that uses QM tools – and in particular, Deming's 14 management points – to help management students to examine and critique environmentally sustainable practices in organizations.

Findings

QM can be used as a bridge between management theory and environmental sustainability. QM can also be used as a framework for teaching environmental sustainability in management classes. The class exercise helps students to enhance their critical skills as they examine and assess sustainable practices in organizations.

Practical implications

A useful perspective on integrating management theory and environmental sustainability. A very useful class exercise for teaching environmental sustainability in management classes, and helping students to enhance their critical skills. The class exercise benefits students, the larger business community, and society since it illustrates the importance of sustainability to future organizational decision makers.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates how environmental sustainability and management theory can be integrated, and presents an original, company‐based class exercise for teaching environmental sustainability in management classes.

Citation

Rusinko, C.A. (2005), "Using quality management as a bridge in educating for sustainability in a business school", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 340-350. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370510623838