Contextual variables influencing firm’s ability to sustain continuous improvement processes: A comparative case study of the European operations of a global mining company Graduate

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the contextual variables that affect sustainability of continuous improvement in the mineral mining industry and explain how (and if) they affect the critical failure factors of continuous improvement activities within the industry. Methodology: Comparative case study Findings: The findings of this research include a list of factors influencing the sustainability of continuous improvement within the mineral mining industry. Further the findings of this research categorize the contextual variables and their implications in the critical failure factors of CI. The effects of the context variable vary in polarity of effect towards the CFFs. Finally, the research findings include a regional comparison of the contextual variables and underline the importance of context for CI sustainability within the mineral mining industry.