Summary

Business excellence models are used in more than 80 countries. Although the most prominent models are the EFQM Excellence Model and the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, several other models have been developed by national quality bodies and other organisations. Business Excellence models encourage organisations to improve in all aspects of their operations by enabling them to identify strengths and the areas that need improvement. The flexibility of the models means that they can be used by any organisation regardless of size, sector, products, culture or location. The models also encourage adopters to embrace self-assessment on a continuous basis, thereby ensuring that improvements and gains are measured.

While some organisations adopt business excellence to both improve and seek recognition/validation via awards, the majority of companies implement business excellence simply to improve performance and competitive positioning. There is evidence to indicate that organisations that have implemented business excellence successfully have outperformed their peers. For organisations that wish to adopt business excellence, several organisations or resources (including BPIR) are able to provide the necessary training or facilitation to underpin success.