Research on quality management and sustainability

Purpose - This article aims to ascertain the necessity for specific research on quality management approaches, bringing to the discussion some concerns and challenges to the quality movement, especially in development of new methodologies for supporting design in the digital area. Design/methodology/approach - Firstly, papers were researched that had already studied the question of what research should carry out in response to the great scientific, technical, and social changes, specifically to support design activities for internet products and secondly we concluded what development is needed. Findings - The increasing complexity of management and technology creates many situations of anxiety and distress, which often translate into abandonment of proven techniques and methodologies, leading to intuitive approaches. But complexity requires more techniques and methodologies not less. The quality movement faces a serious challenge: how to design in an ethical perspective these types of products. Research limitations/implications - This research is limited to identify some needs, but future research should be done in characterizing existing answers and identifying what development is needed. Practical implications - The above findings and reflections can help other researchers to focus on design, to find out practical solutions for sustainability in the innovation process of products and services. Social implications - Finding out to design in an ethical perspective products and services for internet. Originality/value - This research identified relevant challenges the quality management is facing, and it gives guidelines for defining research lines.