Good practice for industrial heritage sites: systematization, indicators, and case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify criteria and examples of good practice in heritage management within the specific field of UNESCO industrial heritage sites. The paper is part of a transfer-of-knowledge project between Humboldt Universität and the Zollverein Foundation (Stiftung Zollverein), responsible for the heritage management of the UNESCO Zollverein site. Design/methodology/approach The study employed document analysis, interviews, expert discussions and application to the field. Findings First, a systematization, termed the Good Practice Wheel, shows eight criteria that must be considered for good practice in heritage management. Second, indicators of good practice, discussed in the academic field, can be embedded in the suggested systematization and provide further details of how to evaluate good practice. Third, the Zollverein case shows that the systematization can be applied to practice. Research limitations/implications The study offers a systematization to identify and discuss good practice. Practical implications The practical implication is to understand better how to turn the demands of UNESCO into opportunities. Social implications The Good Practice Wheel includes social aspects, within community engagement and the criterion of sustainability. Originality/value To date, this represents the only such systematic approach to identify and implement good practice in heritage management, specifically relevant for UNESCO industrial heritage sites.