Experience from teaching the EFQM Model and how this has been applied to the 2010 update

The updated EFQM Model for 2010, launched last September, continues to draw attention from within and outside the membership of EFQM.  The printed version of the new model guide has proved highly popular, as have registrations to our upgrade courses.  The publicity has prompted several companies and European institutions to seek more information about EFQM and how to implement the EFQM Excellence Model in a way that could be relevant to them.  With all the interest being shown in the updated model, we want to discuss in this short article some of the exprience which we have had in its teaching, a lot of which has found its way into the recent updates. The EFQM Model 2010 is designed to be simple to understand.  The overall structure of the model, with its nine boxes of enablers and results, covers the activities of any organisation: this universality has not been changed by the update.  Throughout the updated text and effort has been made to simplify the language, eliminate jargon and unnecessary repetition.  This has helped the number of guidance points to be reduced, even while extending their coverage to now make explicit reference to topics such as innovation, sustainability and ethics.
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How the European Defence Agency plans to build on its commitment to Excellence

The European Defence Agency has been created to help EU Member States develop their defence capabilities for crisis-managmeent operations under the European Security and Defence Policy.  Headquartered in Brussels, its mission consists of four functions: to develop defence capabilities, promote Defence Research and Technology (R&T), promote armaments co-operation and create a competitive European Defence Equipment Market, strengthening the Euroepan Defence, Technological and Industrial Base.  All these functions relate to improving Europe's defence performance, by promoting coherence.  A more integrated approach to capability development contributes to better-defined future requirements on which collaborations - in armaments or R1T or the operational domain - can be built.  More collaboration will, in turn, provide opportunitites for industrial restructuring and progress towards the continental-scale demand and market, which industry needs.  Dr Adam Sowa, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) at the EDA is convinced that the EFQM Model and Fundamental Concepts of Excellence will have an important role to play in structuring how the EDA meets its challenges.
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Top of the list?  Why ranking tables are a poor substitute for EFQM Assessment - By Hervé Legenvre
Comparisons are useful.  Along with Trends and Targets, and an understanding of the Causes behind business results, comparisons let you know how well you are doing against the others.  But the increasingly popular use of corporate rankings is a poor substitute for making a detailed assessment of where you actually stand on the key issues that concern your business.  Journalists and academics cannot replace the role played by informed and experienced Assessors.  Providing comparisons, in the form of corporate ranking tables, is big business.  If you want to know where you stand in terms of your size or greatness, there is a very wide range of different ranking tables to look through, published in business journals or by rating agencies, business schlools and non-governmental as well as governmental organisations.  [Read more]

Also take a look at our other blogs:
Taking information for granted, by Melissa Rancourt [Read more]
There is no 'acceptance' in entrepreneurialism, by Melissa Rancourt [Read more]
The delayed cost of complacency, by Melissa Rancourt [Read more]
We're not out of the jungle, yet, by Hervé Legenvre [Read more]
Taking our place in the bonus debate, by Hervé Legenvre [Read more]
Better service can be slower service, by Melissa Rancourt [Read more]

EFQM brings together organisations striving for Sustainable Excellence.  
Click here to read more about the mission and vision of EFQM.