Critical success factors in the management of ideas as an essential component of innovation and business excellence Available to Purchase

Gilberto Santos is a Professor at the Polytechnic Institute Cávado Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. He holds a PhD degree in mechanical engineering from the Minho University, Portugal. His current research interests include industrial and mechanical engineering, namely, quality, environmental, safety, social responsibility, innovation systems and the respective integration of these management systems known as integrated management systems. Gilberto founded a master’s course on “Integrated Management Systems QES (Quality, Environment and Safety)” at the College of Technology of Polytechnic Institute Cávado where he was the Director of the MSc for seventh editions. Gilberto participates as a speaker in several national and international conferences and he is currently author of several publications in Integrated Management Systems (IMS) – QES (quality, environment and safety) (books, papers in international and national journals). He supervises master and PhD thesis, and is reviewer of international journals.

José Afonseca is a Professor at the Minho University, Portugal. He holds an MSc degree in integrated management systems at the College of Technology of Polytechnic Institute Cávado Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. His current research interests include industrial engineering, as well as management of ideas, quality and integrated management systems.

Nuno Lopes is a Professor at the Polytechnic Institute Cávado Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. He holds a PhD degree in computer engineering from the Minho University, Portugal. His current research interests include computer engineering, as well as, management of ideas and information systems.

Maria João Félix is a Professor at the Polytechnic Institute Cávado Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. She holds PhD in design, from the University of Lisbon – Architecture Department (F.A.U.T.L.). Her current research interests include industrial design and product development, as well as management of ideas.

Federica Murmura is a Professor in Total Quality Management at the Department of Economics, Society, Politics, University of Urbino. Her main research interests concern management quality systems and consumer behavior. Since 2003, she has taken part in Quality Committee of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Urbino and in 2009, she became a coordinator. Since the academic year 2012-2013, she has been a member of the Academic Board of the PhD in Economics and Management of the University of Urbino “Carlo Bo” and a supervisor of PhD students. From March 2013 to March 2015, she has been a member of the Audit Committee of the University of Urbino. On 19 December 2013, she qualified for the competition sector 13/B5 – II band. Since April 2015, she is member of the Quality Group of the School of Economics and of the Department of Economics, Society, Politics.