Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the conditions under which continuous improvement practices are developed and to determine what success factors and barriers affect the sustainability of these practices in order to establish strategies that reduce the risk of failure of improvement proposals in companies.Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents a rigorous review of the success factors and barriers in the implementation of continuous improvement models in companies and a multiple case study in which four successful companies located in Bogota, Colombia, were compared using Bessant's maturity model.Findings: The results suggest the existence of systematic improvement processes in the four companies analysed in favour of the improvement of business competitiveness. After a convergence exercise between the success factors identified in the literature and the routines of the evaluation model used to identify the maturity of the companies in terms of improvement, five strategic fronts were identified to achieve sustainable improvement proposals:(1)have management commit to the improvement and guarantee resources, (2) define a methodology to implement, (3) facilitate and systematize the information on the interventions, (4) design training programs and incentives to encourage employee involvement, and (5) generate a verification and control system to provide real-time feedback on the progress of the improvement actions.Research limitations/implications: This research paper was limited by the analysis of four large Colombian companies, which did not allow the generalizability of findings. Therefore, the study offers interesting insights on the empirical evidence on the lessons learned from continuous improvement practices in order to support managers on better decision making and for the academics on better understanding continuous improvement drivers.Originality/value: The present investigation provides a conceptual framework for future studies related to the sustainability of continuous improvement in industry, approaching this topic from a theoretical and practical perspective.

Purpose: The article analyses the impact of continuous improvement (system and teams) on business sustainability dimensions (social, environmental, operational and financial) as a competitive strategy to create value for all stakeholders in emerging economy context. Design/methodology/approach: The data collected is from 120 companies of different sizes and 13 different industrial sectors such as food, energy, health, financial services, and logistics in Colombia. The design of multivariate logistic regression is to identify the critical aspects of the continuous improvement practices that significantly affect the dimensions of business sustainability. Findings: The analysis shows that from continuous improvement aspects (system and teams), employee involvement, human talent maintenance, training, and evaluation accompanied by feedback impact business sustainability. These elements impact financial and operational dimensions significantly but in the environmental and social aspects with less intensity. Research limitations/implications: Research is limited to the general sustainability analysis applying resource-based strategy in Colombia. Practical implications: Generate overall awareness of the importance of the equilibrium of sustainability dimensions in strategic planning and implementation in emerging economies. Originality/value: This work applies an empirical study to establish the impact of continuous improvement (system and teams) on each of the business sustainability dimensions (social, environmental, operational and financial) in companies of emerging economies.

Concerns have emerged regarding the expenses associated with integrating virtual reality into the digital transformation of companies, stemming from costs related to 3D software development and procurement of headsets. Despite the acknowledged benefits of experiential learning in military training, education and medicine, industrial adoption of virtual reality remains constrained. This study delves into the distinctive advantages of virtual reality in the elevator industry and proposes a cost-effective and innovative virtual reality (VR) training solution and evaluation model aimed at improving the learning outcomes of engineers in the field, grounded in the critical thinking theory. The proposed model seeks to capitalize on the benefits of VR in projects geared towards digital transformation by identifying "meta-requirements" and "principal designs" through a design science research method focused on problem solving. This approach has potential applications in other domains. Our methodology employs a unique strategy to develop a virtual reality experiential training program that harnesses engineers’ cognitive potential to enhance their critical thinking skills. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, we conducted a comparative analysis with a control group trained through traditional digital methods, concentrating on "decision-making and problem-solving" as well as "thinking through hypothesis testing." Engineers undergoing virtual reality training exhibited heightened motivation, emotional engagement, and curiosity levels toward the subject, providing detailed accounts of their experiential training in relation to physical space and time. The "learning by doing" approach resulted in a 15% enhancement in critical thinking among participants, along with a notable 44% improvement in recognition memory.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the practical application of Kaizen philosophy and its relevance to strengthening organizational competitiveness in Colombian companies from different industrial sectors.Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts a multiple case study approach to evaluate the maturity level of Kaizen principles—creating customer value, flow optimization, Gemba orientation, people empowerment, and scientific transparency—using the Kaizen Maturity Model (KMM).Findings: The results reveal the levels of implementation and main challenges faced by each analyzed organization. A detailed diagnosis and practical recommendations are provided for improving operational efficiency and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.Research limitations/implications: This study focuses exclusively on Colombian companies, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or regions. Future research could explore the application of the Kaizen Maturity Model in a broader range of industries and geographical areas.Practical implications: The article offers a benchmarking tool based on the Kaizen Maturity Model (KMM) to help companies identify and address gaps in their operational processes, ultimately facilitating their journey toward operational excellence.Social implications: By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, the adoption of Kaizen principles can contribute to enhanced organizational efficiency, employee empowerment, and better alignment with societal expectations of sustainable and ethical business practices.Originality/value: This study provides a novel application of the Kaizen Maturity Model (KMM) in Colombian companies, delivering actionable insights and practical recommendations to emulate the efficiency and adaptability exemplified by Toyota.