The EFQM Excellence Model -

The Model and its criteria

Overview

The Model is a comprehensive, holistic measure of overall performance, providing a means to drive forward continuous improvement.

It was first developed in 1991 by leading UK and European companies and subsequently tested by hundreds of others. It is now widely accepted as the most effective and reliable framework to help run a successful and progressive organization now and into the future.

The Model is used regularly by thousands of organisations across all sectors, and is used regularly by many leading companies, including BT, ICI, Zeneca, Royal Mail, ICL, British Gas and Rank Xerox. Small organisations as well as larger ones use it. The Dell Primary School has been an award winner.

Excellence means taking a long term holistic view, it requires positive leadership, emotional involvement, walking the talk, gaining employee and customer trust, and being open to self-assessment and continuous improvement.

Some of the benefits of self-assessment against the Model are as follows:

A way of helping "leaders" to prioritise action based on facts and identified needs.

A way to pull existing initiatives together and to focus improvement efforts.

A way of comparative benchmarking and sharing best practice.

A way of demonstrating long term commitment and consistency of purpose.

A way of involving all staff, through ownership of agreed actions and results.