EFQM Excellence Model

This is the model behind the European Business Excellence Award, an award process run by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). This framework is used as the basis for national business excellence and quality awards across Europe.

The EFQM Excellence Model is based on nine criteria.  Five of these are “ENABLERS” and four are “RESULTS“.  The “Enabler” criteria cover what an organisation does and how it does it.  The “Results” criteria cover what an organisation achieves.

The model nine categories

  1. Leadership
  2. Policy and Strategy
  3. People
  4. Partnerships and Resources
  5. Processes
  6. Customer Results
  7. People Results
  8. Society Results
  9. Key Performance Results

The fundamental concepts that underpin the EFQM Excellence Model are:

  • Results Orientation
  • Customer Focus
  • Leadership and Constancy of Purpose
  • Management by Processes and Facts
  • People Development and Involvement
  • Continuous Learning, Innovation and Improvement
  • Partnership Development
  • Corporate Social Responsibility

What cab be achieved with EQFM Model

There are four Results areas, shown on the right-hand side of the Model.  These are the results an organisation achieves, in line with their strategic goals.  In all four results areas, we find that excellent organisations:

  • Develop a set of key performance indicators and related outcomes to determine the successful deployment of their strategy, based on the needs and expectations of the relevant stakeholder groups
  • Set clear targets for key results, based on the needs and expectations of their business stakeholders, in line with their chosen strategy
  • Segment results to understand the performance of specific areas of the organisation and the experience, needs and expectations of their stakeholders
  • Demonstrate positive or sustained good business results over at least 3 years
  • Clearly understand the underlying reasons and drivers of observed trends and the impact these results will have on other performance indicators and related outcomes
  • Have confidence in their future performance and results based on their understanding of the cause and effect relationships established
  • Understand how their key results compare to similar organisations and use this data, where relevant, for target setting

CUSTOMER RESULTS

Excellent organisations achieve and sustain outstanding results that meet or exceed the need and expectations of their customers.

PEOPLE RESULTS

Excellent organisations achieve and sustain outstanding results that meet or exceed the need and expectations of their people.

SOCIETY RESULTS

Excellent organisations achieve and sustain outstanding results that meet or exceed the need and expectations of relevant stakeholders within society.

BUSINESS RESULTS

Excellent organisations achieve and sustain outstanding results that meet or exceed the need and expectations of their business stakeholders.