Reverse flows as the source of knowledge for zero waste performance - integration of knowledge, quality, innovation and reverse logistics management

Purpose - Reverse flows consist of material, financial, information, knowledge, services and waste flows and should be handled as the resources that have more or less tangible and intangible value. Without the understanding of reverse flows as the valuable resources both efficiency and effectiveness problems arise that have negative impact on sustainable development of business. The primary goal of every enterprise is to minimise the emergence of some of these flows (especially material ones) since significant part of them turn into the waste for disposal. This means that enterprises should follow zero waste strategy. There are several business functions as well as fields of study which role is to help to follow such strategy. Nevertheless the statistics concerning the growing volumes of reverse flows and especially waste (e. g. municipal and industrial waste) show that despite the effect of consumerism there is the potential gap in the needed integration of those functions and fields of study. The purpose of this paper is to gain better understanding of the interrelationships among several business functions which integration supported with appropriate management approach should lead to zero waste performance. Design of the conceptual framework with the knowledge management as the basis for the integration and some empirical evidence of its functionality are presented in this paper. Design/methodology/approach - Extensive literature review of knowledge management and quality, innovation and reverse logistics management was carried out to design conceptual framework. This framework was tested through the empirical survey of 130 enterprises. Data acquired from the structured questionnaire were analysed with the aim to find out the existence and character of hypothetical relations among the elements of proposed conceptual framework. Originality/value - The results of the survey represent one of the first attempts to find empirical support for the role of knowledge management as the integrator for quality management, innovation management and reverse logistics. Proposed conceptual framework takes rather broad perspective, considering points of contact among these business functions and the existing theoretical knowledge in order to facilitate zero waste strategy. Practical implications - The proposed conceptual framework has both theoretical and managerial implication. It contributes to the existing management literature by identifying and highlighting the intersections of those parts of quality, innovation and reverselogistics management that should be interconnected for accomplishing zero waste and to minimise reverse flows and show the role of knowledge management.