EFQM Implementation Project: Overview

General

The EFQM Excellence Model is being implemented by over 30 000 organisations in the world. It is a non-prescriptive assessment framework that can be used to gain a holistic overview of any organisation regardless of size, sector or maturity. It enables organisations to

• Understand their key strengths and potential gaps in relation to their stated Vision and Mission;

• Provide a common vocabulary and way of thinking that facilitates the effective communication of ideas;

• Integrate existing and planned initiatives, removing duplication and identifying gaps;

• Provide a basic structure for the management system.

Hence, the release of the EFQM Quality Assurance Framework by the IAA in autumn 2009 was a most important step forward and was warmly welcomed in Germany (where it was just a few months ago adopted independently). Sharing it’s own experiences and resources, Germany in the three-years pilot partners with the EMAS Regional Office and other National Award Authorities to put the International Award Association’s EFQM initiative “back on its feet”, thus contributing to the sustainability of the OAA strategy.

A coherent implementation of the EFQM model must comprise all elements of the licence system: IAA/NAA, Operating Authorities and Award Units with their respective participants groups. The DofE’s Quest for Quality Toolkit (which also makes use of the model) offers a good starting point for such a holistic perspective.

“By-products” and main steps

“By-products” of incorporating the EFQM model into Award management would include (in alphabetical order):

• Award management guidelines;

• Common Award management language;

• Development towards a learning organization;

• “System-level-independent” tools for planning, documentation, evaluation and self-assessment;

• Sustainability;

• People who are in a position to act as a consultant to NAA’s, Operating Authorities and Units;

• Workshop/seminar ideas, topics & materials.

Main steps of the project were / should be:

• Introduction and setting of the project group (April 2011);

• Get a live impression of “EFQM at work” by attending an Award Management Course run by the German NAA (if not already done);

• Introductory Seminar No 1: Award Management & Detailed Planning (early 2012);

• Introductory Seminar No 2: EFQM (spring or summer 2012);

• IASS 2012 on Award Management (internal "test run" - preparation & evaluation included);

• IASS 2013 on Award Management (public "premiere");

• Project evaluation (autumn 2013).

Partners & Funding

Links and Literature

• EFQM: General
  

• EFQM.org

• My first steps with EFQM Model 2010

• Wikipedia on EFQM

• British Quality Foundation on EFQM

• National Quality / Business Excellence Awards in different countries

• The Award and EFQM

• DofE: Quest for Quality Toolkit (2005)

• IAA: Quality Assurance Framerwork (2009)

• The German Award on EFQM

• EFQM Implementation Project

• Outline

• Chronik