What is the EFQM Excellence Model?
The EFQM Excellence Model was introduced in 1992 and has become an internationally recognised self-assessment model that helps businesses to identify strengths and weaknesses in areas that enable effective business management. The model looks at the areas of business process that enable the business operation and also looks at the results that are derived. The Excellence Model has been refreshed in 2003, mainly to review the sub-criteria (or criterion parts). The fundamentals of the model remain unchanged and the main criteria and weightings are judged to be still valid. Within the public sector the UK Public Service Reform Unit within the Office for the First Minister is driving the Steps to Excellence programme, which has EFQM at its heart. EFQM is registered trademark of the European Foundation for Quality Management.
The Excellence Model is a practical framework by which an organisation can assess itself objectively against criteria for excellence. By carrying out a comprehensive, systematic and regular self-assessment, an organisation identifies its strengths and weaknesses. It can then direct improvement activities to areas that will yield the best results. Regular self-assessment also provides objective measurement of actual improvement. The excellence model is an internationally recognised corporate measurement tool. Self-assessment can provide top management with the reliable answers to the vital question, “Are we doing the right things to get the right results ?”.
