Innovation, Quality Management and Competence Development

This book focuses on innovation and quality management in Europe as a challenge for competence development. In search for innovation, organizations are dependent on new and surprising ideas that will be valued by customers. Specific know-how, innovation competences and quality tools are success factors for mastering complex innovation processes. Innovation culture and inspiring leadership become necessary and integrated framework conditions. In the light of these issues, the book also explores several problem-solving approaches learned from European countries, at various levels (e.g. individuals, enterprises, regions, countries) and the competences which are necessary to enable the respective actors to professionally implement these instruments at those levels. Experts and researchers from Europe provide valuable contributions on this topic which is of high relevance particularly for SMEs.